Use of N6-Benzyladenine to Improve Flower Quality of Potted Dendrobium Orchids

Mature pseudobulbs of Dendrobium Sena Red and Dendrobium Burana Gold were treated with 450 ppm N⁶-Benzyladenine dissolved in ethanol and diluted with water as a spray to drip (about 5 ml) during the early evening. Pseudobulbs of Dendrobium Sena Red control plants and treated plants both produced one spray per plant. Treatment with N⁶-Benzyladenine increased the number of flowers per spray to 9.4 from 3.9 for controls. Average spray length also increased to 26.2 cm from 17.2 cm for controls. Dendrobium Burana Gold plants treated with 450 ppm N⁶-Benzyladenine produced 1.2 sprays per pseudobulb compared to 0.7 for the controls. The number of flowers per spray also increased to15.5 from 9.5 for controls and the spray length increased to 65.1 cm from 38.1 for controls. Treatment of mature pseudobulbs of Dendrobium plants with N⁶-Benzyladenine appears to be an effective method for improving the quality of the flowering potted orchids.