All Keikis..no blooms

[Centerharbear]

Hi everyone,
I've got a Dendrobium Nobile that has not produced any blooms, but is a keiki producer. Am I doing something wrong?

Chuck

[Lambert]

Not knowing more about what you have done and your growing conditions, I can only give you a general answer from my experience with soft cane den.
The most common reason for keikis production is too much fertilizer and especially too much nitrogen, and/or watering, fertilizing at the wrong times.
My den produces keikis no matter what but it blooms as well.
With dens, it is what you do from the previous Summer onward, that will determine the blooms for the following Spring.
What is your watering/fertilizing routine, do you give it a winter rest ...?

[Centerharbear]

Thanks for replying to my question. I am new to orchid growing but have tried to do some reading about them. I basically water my orchids once a week and fertilize every fourth week. I do remember reading that you withhold water during the winter. not completely, but very little, so I did that. I did remove a keiki last fall and potted it and it is doing fine...looks very healthy.

[Lambert]

Chuck,
here's the watering/fertilizing routine that works for me and my soft cane den.
Water freely in the summer depending on how warm it gets.
Nitrogen fertilizer should stop completely early August.(I switch to a no nitrogen fertilizer for late summer, early Fall then stop)
Gradually decrease the watering in September. You can put your den outside in October (unless it is freezing cold which I doubt in NH) to expose it to enough cool temperatures to induce the dormancy.
Reduce watering after that. Just mist here and there, water a little and reduce again for the last 2 months of Winter.
Give as much light as you can during the Winter rest while maintaining some "cool" temperatures.
Start watering once a week only when you see new growth in early Spring and you can start fertilizing weakly as well with an all around fertilizer. Some keikis will form and some buds should follow soon after.
Light and air circulation are very important in general.
It sounds much easier than it looks because it is based on progressive neglect!
Good luck.

[Centerharbear]

Thanks very much for the detailed info Lambert! I have yet to find someone on this chat room who hasn't been anything but a great help to my neophyte orchid experience. Thanks so much....Can I add you to my friend list?

Chuck

[Lambert]

Sure thing Chuck, I just added you to my friends list.