3 Questions about 4 Dendrobiums

[Kittyfrex]

Let me start with D. nobile.
I had few over the years, many things happened. ALways did well outside in the summer, but came winted, i'd bring them in and they'd die. That changed two years ago, when i left them to overwinter outside, intent on only bringing them in if the tem dipped to about 0 (almost never did). It budded, then got eaten by snails. Whelp.
Now, it has recovered, lost all canse but propped multiple shoots and keikis that formed the new plant. Looks strong, sturdy, with thicker than ever canes (for the size). My question is about the color, as the leaves are like a 50/50 split between yellow and green (colors mixed, no actual color 'regions' on the leaf itself). Is that...normal? I see no deformities, damage w/e, and it recieves a good deal of direct sunlight, aprox 4-6 h tho not all at once. All other ones i had, regardless of how well they grew (and this one before this year) were not necessarily a dark green, but they were certainly not yellowish.

My second question is about D. kinganium and D.Patricia Van Puyenbroeck. From what i gathered, they should be getting similar or same care to D. nobile (temperature/light). Is that correct?

Third is D. lindleyi, and from all i've menaged to find, it prefers to have somewhat warmer nights wintertime (8-10C). I would also like to vertify this informaton (I can provide both cooler and less cool, as well as year round temperate, but i can't do that with no information)

When i bought them (a few months ago), it didn't occur to me to remember that information online can be mixed, and it is better to ask people and then deduce. I've also wrote a lot of text for quite simple questions, but i'd rather do that than leave crucial information out by accident.

[Roberta]

I think that Den lindleyi actually wants a good chill. I have tried these carefully dried in winter, I have tried letting them get wet in winter... either way, they don't bloom reliably for me. (Den aggretatum = Den. aggrevatum ) Their smaller relative, Den. jenkinsii, blooms reliably under the same conditions. So for Den., lindleyi, I can just wish you good luck.

[Kittyfrex]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I think that Den lindleyi actually wants a good chill. I have tried these carefully dried in winter, I have tried letting them get wet in winter... either way, they don't bloom reliably for me. (Den aggretatum = Den. aggrevatum ) Their smaller relative, Den. jenkinsii, blooms reliably under the same conditions. So for Den., lindleyi, I can just wish you good luck.

Got mine labeled 1y from blooming, tho that often means little, it just depends on the growth. I was aiming for more chilly tolerant species to keep out with my nobile. Should i overwinter it in my greenhouse or outside tho, that's what i'd like to know (10-15 degrees mean nighttime temps, doesn't really dip bellow that)

[Roberta]

I think that those will be fine outside. I grow pretty much everything that isn't low-elevation tropical outside, my winter temperature range is very close to yours. I also dry very few. (D. lindleyi is one that I do) but most are are mounted or in baskets (so dry fast) . A possible difference for me, winter days usually get a little warmer, like 15-20 C. most of the time) I would probably want to keep them drier if they stayed cold all day too But t think they will laugh at nighttime lows of 4 deg C. Not a problem.

Early in my "orchid career" I followed the advice of "no water from Halloween to Valendine's Day" for nobile Dens... and killed several. In nature they get dew even when there is no rain, at my house it is much drier. So I water everything less because they dry out more slowly when it is cool and sun angle is lower, but very few get "no water". And they bloom.

[Kittyfrex]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I think that those will be fine outside. I grow pretty much everything that isn't low-elevation tropical outside, my winter temperature range is very close to yours. I also dry very few. (D. lindleyi is one that I do) but most are are mounted or in baskets (so dry fast) . A possible difference for me, winter days usually get a little warmer, like 15-20 C. I would probably want to keep them drier if they stayed cold all day too But t think they will laugh at nighttime lows of 4 deg C. Not a problem.

Just to be clear, i should put all 3 outside, right? My D. nobile is in a place that recives about 6+ hours of sun during the winter, is protected from north wind (south ones raise the temp to 10+ at night, no question asked), and sheltered from rain. I assume that is roughly what they want?

I didn't water nobile last winter, but it was relatively humid. Don't recall if that changed much, honestly. You are saying i should water them here?

[Roberta]

If you have good humidity, and the plants tolerated that, I think keep doing what you're doing. You can do the same with those other Dens, too. They are really quite cold-tolerant.

I can get occasional episodes of hot, drying winds in winter. (29 deg C, single-digit humidity) - then I water everything. Take a look at my website (link in signature), Index of Plants shows what I grow outside. My summer temperature range is typically 20 deg C low to 30 deg C high (or a few degrees more occasionally) with no rain , winter typical low 3-4 deg C, highs 15-20 C (give or take a few degrees) with unreliable rain, just for reference.

[Kittyfrex]

That summer is a bit chillier than ours, ranging from 25 low (wind and rain) to 33-35 being somewhat a constant, tho above that is not rare. Tho we did have a day of 17 this winter, it usually hovered closer to 10. Is that enough of a difference to warrant a lot of caution? Rainwise...well...there's more of it, but more spread out and fewer days-on-days downpours during both winter and summer.

[Roberta]

I have the benefit of living about 6 km from the Pacific coast, and the water is cool which keeps temperatures down. Even just a little farther inland my area gets a bit less temperate. So take that into account when extrapolating from what I get away with. Our climates are similar but not identical. But you really can stretch the boundaries a little if the plants are acclimated. Be bold but a little cautious...

[Kittyfrex]

I actually live on a fairly small island, on the coast as well. Most of the mainland get's hit by 35+ most of the summer.

Still, it's helpful to have someone with relaively similar climate help you out; internet is fine if you live north or in the tropics, not as good for me.

[Roberta]

The Mediterranean climate is rare in the world... only 5 locations worldwide. Your version is a little warmer in summer, and I think a bit wetter... the Mediterranean near you is a lot warmer than the Pacific ocean near me. But still, a similar pattern. The Dens and other things (like Sarcochilus) that come from south, SE, and SW Australia should do very well for you outside all year, same pattern (seasons switched of course, but plants grown from seed in the northern hemisphere get it right). Also Cymbidiums. And Laelia anceps (and relatives)