Dendrobium bud question

8 years ago

Hello All! I was referred to your website and am hoping for a little guidance-- a little over a year ago I was given Dendrobium Nobile with BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS. Since then, I have researched how to care for the plant and was excited to see possible flowering buds peeking through last month. The buds are lengthening but seem to have "little spikes" growing out of them? I do have the orchid growing some new keikis, so I don't think that's what this is...and I have read that when you see buds, not to fertilize or water too much as the buds will transform into keikis? Other sites say, no this isn't the case, a bud is a bud and knows it's going to flower, so fertilizing is ok....I did go ahead and fertilize weakly with a liquid food diluted down. I also mist every morning as our house is rather dry, but it's in a far bedroom about 8" from a west facing window, so gets afternoon sun and the temp is pretty cool in the house. I am posting some pictures so perhaps someone might identify the mysterious growing cycle? Also, does anyone know if fertilizing buds early will transform potential flowers into little keikis? I appreciate any advice :)

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Comments (3)

Danielle Rose
8 years ago
Those are new growths, and those little spikes are roots. Let 'em keep growing.

My understanding is that a Den. nobile type needs a period of being cool and really dry in order to produce buds. If not, you'll get keikis instead of flowers. I'm not sure how dry you let your plant get during the cooler weather, but if you were watering and fertilizing regularly, this could be why you have new growth, and no buds.

It's a tough plant to master ... good luck!
arthurm2015
8 years ago
Ease of culture? Depends on where you are in the world. Beginner's orchid here!

Grown outside all year. Needs cooler drier winter with no fertiliser.

Average winter Temps Min. 7C Max 17C with many sunny days. Difficult conditions to copy if you are growing indoors in Northern USA.

Cool tolerant down to about 2C.

Too much warmth at the wrong time of year, many keikis with few flowers!
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shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
8 years ago
Here in Florida I stop fertilizing Oct 1 and only modest water. Yours were watered and fertilized past the correct cutoff date. Nobile's need to feel slightly threatened. If the water and fertilizer goes too long it will produce babies instead of flowers. The threat makes them want to procreate, hence flowers. No threat no flowers. How many canes on your plant? If a lot, later after the new growth gets bigger, cut the entire cane. Next you might cut a little more so you can bury the cane in a new pot so the roots are at or just above the potting material. That way it will draw nutrition from the old cane. In 2 or 3 years the old cane will biodegrade and the plant will be blooming. I do not cut back on the water and feed for the first year or 2.