The Orchid Garden

Dendrobium kingianum

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Den. kingianum is growing in a hanging container where it gets 50% shade, lots of air circulation.  When I water/fertilize my cymbidiums it gets the same and because of this regimen my plant has quite a few keikis.  I stop watering/fertilizing it at Holloween and start with plain water when I see the flower stems emerging.  I start fertilizing when there are new roots and growths appearing. Last spring/summer, 2 sets of doves took up residence on top of my plant. After the first set left I removed the nest and about a month later the 2nd set came.  Don’t know if the bird S helped any, but this year the plant is a blooming fool !  This year I noticed a couple of doves eyeing the plant but they went away because of all of the flowers (at least I think that’s the reason they left).  Now, I will wait to see if the 2nd set will set up housekeeping around the 4th of July.

Wildlife can be a problem, but they are nice. My growing area is only partially screened and natures creatures are welcome. Normally I have either an egret or heron inside of the area waiting for me to bring them a fish. The heron is the boss and when he comes the egret leaves gracefully. The other day another egret decided that this should be his territory. A great big fight ensued. When it was over I had several pots on the ground. Luckily, no real damage. Yes, they can be a problem. However when you look out and see an egret standing peacfully among your orchids, it is worth it. For me it is looking at them six feet away on the other side of a sliding glass door. I guess this post is OK in Orchids. Entertaining I hope. Bill in the Florida Keys.

Response:

My Den. kingianum is growing in a hanging container where it gets 50% shade, lots of air circulation.  When I water/fertilize my cymbidiums it gets the same and because of this regimen my plant has quite a few keikis.  I stop watering/fertilizing it at Holloween and start with plain water when I see the flower stems emerging.  I start fertilizing when there are new roots and growths appearing. Last spring/summer, 2 sets of doves took up residence on top of my plant. After the first set left I removed the nest and about a month later the 2nd set came.  Don’t know if the bird S helped any, but this year the plant is a blooming fool !  This year I noticed a couple of doves eyeing the plant but they went away because of all of the flowers (at least I think that’s the reason they left).  Now, I will wait to see if the 2nd set will set up housekeeping around the 4th of July.

Response:

You have to threaten the plant with frost to get it to bloom, I have found. Also keep it very, very dry in November and until you see the buds pretty far along.Don’t divide the plant. Let it get full and pot-bound.  Linda in Atlanta

Response:

You have to threaten the plant with frost to get it to bloom, I have found. Also keep it very, very dry in November and until you see the buds pretty far along.Don’t divide the plant. Let it get full and pot-bound.  Linda in Atlanta

Just to add to Linda’s comments, beginning in November we just "forget" to water the kingianums, which are right against a south exposure, so temps probably get into the 40’s on a cold night. Eventually, usually 6-8 weeks later, we pick up the watering again. No real schedule there, but it works well for us -Rod- Venger’s Orchids Website http://www.vengers.com/

Response:

I have a Dendrobium kingianum that I purchased last year in April. I have been growing it in strong, indirect light and it is doing quite

well, except that I can’t get it to flower…….

Christopher, Generally Den kingianum is a cool growing plant. To get it to flower you really do need cool / cold conditions. I have some plants with Den. kingianum in their parentage and they very rarely flower here in Townsville Australia. (Similar climate to southern California). As a result I don’t buy plants with Den kingianum in their parentage AND those that I had have been consigned to that great bush house in the sky. (Townsville’s temperatures range down to 12C in winter and up to 37C in Summer) Regards Brett (in Townsville, the host of the 1998 Asia Pacific Orchid Conference. 8 – 15 September 1998)

Response:

I have a Dendrobium kingianum that I purchased last year in April. I have been growing it in strong, indirect light and it is doing quite well, except that I can’t get it to flower (it was in bloom when I purchased it last year).  It is in a 4 inch clay pot with a loose bark mixture. I water it once per week, every other watering with water soluable orchid fertilizer at 1/4 strength.  It likes where it is because it has put two large canes since last summer, and I have a little shoot that looks like it is coming off a back bulb.  No signs of disease or pests.  Temps are 80’s day, 70’s night in summer and 70’s day, low 60’s night in winter.  I live in Southern California. It is obvious to me that either I missed the dormancy period or it hasn’t come yet.  Tried cutting back the water, light, Nitrogen, etc.  Just keeps growing like weed without flowering. The 2nd cane is dropping its roots right at the pot lip. Questions: 1. When is the normal dormancy period, if any? 2. How and when does it flower? 3. Should I repot?   4. If so when? 5. Should I divide the plant? 6. What do I do with the shoot and the little back bulb when I repot?                                                         Thanks for all the help in advance                                                         Chris

Response:

The idea of dormancy is to water so the canes of the plant do not shrivel up, as it sounds like yours are, WATER IT!  It’s a hard thing to try and get the watering for each plant just right.  It was probably the heat that made the buds stop coming out. I have one myself that  I’m fussing over right now! I hate it when the buds take along time to come out. I always am so impatient for the flowers!!  K.

Response:

Hi, A week ago I bought one of these plants since it was on sale for under 3$ and it had already a flower spike.I don’t know much about orchids and so I gave it a warm place with lots of water.When I read all your suggestions about a cool, light and dry place, I noticed that the second, smaller flower spike seemed to disappear. I followed your advice and it starts to grow again.The 5 little stems of the plant start to shrivel and the biggest bud turns pinkish. For how long do I have to let them starve ? Do all Dendrobiums need that dormant phase?When you say dry, do you mean bone dry ? Burkhard

Response:

Filed under: Dendrobium Orchid

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