My first two Dendrobiums! Care/Culture/Advice!?

[emmajs243]

Hey guys! I just recieved my first dendrobiums so am a total newbie to them! 100% clueless! So I began looking for the Culture sheets like I did for my first Catt....that's when I learn, dendrobiums are NOT like Cattleyas....obviously in the sense of the plants but I mean in the sense that, the Cattleya alliance just has one main very detailed Culture sheet and besides maybe a little change here and there, the Catt alliance can all be cared for the same way...dendrobiums have one short Culture sheet, with all these different groups and then only 2 sentences on their Culture/care....It's just such a quick "overview" if you could even call it that.

I could REALLY use some help wrapping my head around their care, growth cycle, repotting time/advice....everything and anything you have to offer on dendrobium care!

My dendrobiums are, Dendrobium parishii and Dendrobium superbum 'Little Sweet Scent' (thank goodness they are in the same group!). One problem is that dendrobiums have like, VERY different care depending on their current growth stage....If I am being honest....totally did NOT know dendrobiums even went into "dormancy"...I unpacked the first one and it was just canes with one wilted, yellow leaf and I was thinking. "Are you kidding me? Who would pick this out?!" Then I read the note in the box saying that both dendrobiums were "coming out of dormancy".

The dendrobium parishii only has the canes and one wilted yellow leaf right now...dendrobium superbum has green leaves already. I just don't really know what is suppose to happen next or what to watch for....AOS basically says, when roots appear give warmth, water/fertilize heavily until "top leaf appears on canes". Then high light, little to no water, no fertilizer, cool nights "basically forget about them".

So since the dendrobium superbum has leaves do I now forget about it? Am I at that point already? When does blooming occur in all of this? I want to say both are spring bloomers.

OH AND! When in the world would be my repotting window? Right after dormancy when new roots show up or before dormancy after they have bloomed...?

Basically, anyone with dendrobium advice jump in here! I am in need of further education! Helpful Links work too! I will graciously take any sort of help!