My First Dendrobium... what do I need to know to look after it

[RosieC]

After relative success looking after Phals for a few years I was tempted by these beautiful flowers on a Dendrobium.

I don't know anything about them though and you guys know everything so I thought I would buy it anyway then try to find out what I need to know.

First of all can you guys confirm for me that it IS a Dendrobium (I've shown some shots of the stem as well to help confirm what it it)? I'm not sure I trust the shop's labelling... all of their orchids are NOIDs and many are just labled Orchidee. This one was just labled Dendrobium but I've never seen one 'in the flesh' before so I'm not certain

Also I have no idea how healthy or otherwise it is. One of the leaves on the smallest stem has a black tip. Does it look OK?

Any advice on how to look after it for someone used to Phals like me? It was very dry when I brought it home so I have watered it... but I'm not sure how much it should be watered... is it about the same as Phals or more or less?

What sort of light does it need... my Phals are in an east facing window in a room which has a west facing window 5m away. The lable says it needs 'much light' but I'm not sure what that means.
Can it be in direct sunlight?

I'd really love some advice so I can avoid killing this beauty

[Swamper]

I am definately not an expert but till one answers here, goes...
yes its a dendro
it likes more light than a phal and about the same water
people always give me these and I have about 10 3 insdie and about 7 outside
the ones inside are by the east windows and get direct sunlight in the morning till about 10:30 am
the ones outside are facing west and get the 4-7pm sun directly. I was also given about seven more that are sorta thrown by the fence..as a rescue that I have no interest in LOL and they are doing great. My opinion they are like grass as far as toughness, but beautiful blooms and PLENTY

[Ross]

Dendros are sorta funny in that many people liken them to grass. I generally have no luck, except, with deciduous types. Yours is probably not deciduous (can't really tell by looking at it.) Check out these posts for more info: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...endrobium.html

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...bium-alliance/

[Royal]

They do like higher light than Phals. They'll survive in Phal light, but just won't do that great. A good east or south window would work.

For water, let it dry almost all the way between waterings. Let get a little drier than a Phal. Like Phals, I find that most of mine like it on the warmer side. When it's cooler (winter) water much less. Cold + wet = rot.

Dends in general like a small pot for the plant size, and some are deciduous so don't worry about the leaf tip. Some will yellow and drop but don't freak out. It happens.

[bonsai1504]

these are the aos culture sheets for dendrobium (the second one is good if you know what type of dendrobium you have. evergreen, deciduous, etc.)
culturedendrobe[1].pdf
dendrobe2.pdf

[Swamper]

bonsai is that a horse on your avatar? jk big big dog?

[RosieC]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Unfortunately I have no idea which of the six types it is, or whether it's a hard cane or otherwise. It's a NOID so could be anything

Anyway, from the advice and the links you've given I've found out a lot more about them than I knew this morning.

I'll see what happens... I can either kill it or it will live... it wasn't expensive so I'm just going to enjoy the flowers while it is alive and do my best to keep it that way.

[bonsai1504]

my avatar is my greyhound max

[Swamper]

greyhound ahhh it must be the angle looks a lot bigger, I like his expression