NoId Dends - Lowes Rescue - Need tips - Thank you!

[priz_m]

Boy am I happy! Last night I jumped in the rescue wagon… well my boyfriend sort of put me up for it. He doesn’t quite get my fascination with orchids, he only knows they make me happy. And last night he grabbed 2 noID Dends at Lowe’s that were on sale and asked me: “Can you fix them?”( he is the sweetest man ) So I took a closer look at them once was still potted but seemed pretty healthy (which we gave to his mom, also, an Orchid lover) and the other had half of the media gone exposing the roots which shows a couple new ones and what may be a new bulb. Now, I am totally new to Dends, all I’ve had are phals (and I managed to bring one back from the dead and the other… well is in the ‘chid ICU ) So I’d very much appreciate any insight on caring for Dends, I am going to repot in a coarse bark mix, I’ll soak the roots in a KLN solution, and put it in the middle of mi living room where it will get lots of bright indirect light. Please advise if I’m overlooking anything as far as preventive measures for the roots and plant before repotting.

As always thank you guys! Happy growing!

Oh! Almost forgot! I will post As soon as I can.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Grow intermediate to warm (55 degrees F to 90 degrees F). Moderate to high humidity (50% - 80%). Water once to twice a week, but less with higher humidity. Lighting should be moderate to bright indirect. Moderate to high air circulation is fine.

Fertilize year round for evergreens.

Or if they're deciduous or semi-deciduous fertilize heavily during spring through summer. Reduce fertilization during fall. Eliminate fertilization during winter dormancy.

Grow as potbound as possible. Use fine bark mix if potted. If you fail with potting, mount onto tree fern fiber with enough moss to lightly cover the roots.

Roots on deciduous and semi-deciduous Dendrobiums naturally shrivel up and die during dormancy. Evergreens keep growing roots with older ones dying.

Different hybrids and species flower at different times of the year.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I forgot there are only a few acceptions to growing intermediate to warm. But it's safe to assume that the hybrids sold at Lowes are not the cool to intermediate growing kind.

[priz_m]

Thank you King! how about s/h? Would it be recommended for Dends?

[quiltergal]

Priz, before you make a decision on what or how to repot you really need to know what type you have. Dendrobium is the largest group of orchids with thousands of different species. Go to the Den. forum here and click on the sticky "The Six Horticultural Groups of Dendrobiums". In the meantime, post a pic, and we should be able to narrow it down at least to what type.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've never tried to grow orchids using semi-hydroponics. You've gotta ask someone who does.

You can repot or mount (preferred) right away. Don't worry about the flowers if they blast out. The only thing left you gotta find out is the hybrids are semi-deciduous/deciduous or evergreen. That will determine how you should water and fertilize them. Everything else can be somewhat generalized.

The easy way to generalize whether your hybrids are semi-deciduous/deciduous or evergreen is to find out what section within Dendrobium the parents belong to.

For example Dendrobium lineale belongs to section Spathulata. While Dendrobium macrophyllum belongs to section Latourea. Dendrobium nobile belongs to section Dendrobium. So on and so forth...

Then google for habitat and growing info for both parents.

[Leeanna]

I am relatively new to keeping orchids, too. My dendrobiums are thriving with the roots attached to coconut husks. I have not repotted them yet. They seem to like more light than phals. Be sure to check for snails and other pests! If they were cared for by a robot at the greenhouse, snails are common. Check for them after watering or repotting.

[foxtailskies]

silly newbie question... what's KLN solution?

thanks

[gerneveyn]

It's a rooting hormone made by Dyna-gro. Dyna-Gro

[cupcake]

Never mind the dend! (sacriledge) just cultivate the OH! He sounds to be perfect material!