Q: Some people have said the flower produced by keikis on dendrobiums are of lower quality, which includes smaller lower side, shorter flower stem, and also weaker cut flowers than the flowers produced by the mother plant. Is it correct? At what age does a dendrobium plant’s flower production capacity start to decline?

A: In a sympodial orchid like hardcane Dendrobium there is no difference between productivity of the originating plant and the keiki. Dendrobiums should show no decline in productivity over its life. However, in practice, this seems to be only partially true. What is possibly occurring is that some systemic diseases, viruses and bacteria are making their presence felt. It is also possible that some genetic change occurs in the plants.