Dendrobium aggregatum question

[VickiC]

Happily, no problem this time ..... just a question:

I bought this orchid about 3 months ago at Lowes. ( ) It was in the bag-baby /box section. I've been thinking all along since I've gotten it that it seems somewhat small, nor has it produced any obvious new growths, etc., but I haven't questioned it....just brushed it off as being another of my Lowes tiny orchid purchases. I decided this morn. to ask you for sure to please solve my curiousity. As you can see in the photo, the tag says: "Dendrobium aggregatum x aggregatum v. majus". I haven't learned how to read orchid labels yet, so I have no idea what I have....except it is in the Dendrobium family. Could someone tell me if this is a miniature, semi-miniature, or neither? Whatever the case....any advice on care needs for it? It has been sitting on a table in front of an east window, watered with distilled water about once ea. week (or when it seemed dry, as best I could tell), and weakly-weekly fertilizer.

As always, I would appreciate any help from you,
Vicki

[orchideric]

Dear Vicki,

Variety "majus" just means big. Some of us joke that we have never seen anything labelled except as "majus" - think of it as part of a sales pitch. So your plant is just a seedling from a sibling cross of the species.

That said, the correct name for your plant is Dendrobium lindleyi. To make a long story short, there was an earlier D. aggregatum (now a Maxillaria) so the second use of the name needed to be replaced - hence D. lindleyi.

I wouldn't worry about your plant. It has a very hard dormancy during the winter (but is not a species that loses its leaves when dormant). In mid-winter it should produce a flower spray for late winter/early spring. If it doesn't flower this year don't worry - the plant may be a little small still. After the flowers the new growth will appear.

Many people have trouble flowering this species wel because they don't give it a strong enough dormancy. Don't panic yet and try and treat it harshly. The great thing about D. lindleyi is that if it doesn't flower it just saves up the flowers. So if a plant doesn't flower for, say, 3 years and then it gets the proper conditions, it will produce 3 years of orange flowers at one time for quite a show.

If you have any Thai friends you might ask them about the plant. It has a common name in Thailand that alludes to their version of Romeo and Juliet. Apparently it grows on or near cliffs and has a kind of lover's leap enduring love saga.

Hope that helps, Eric

[quiltergal]

I have a Den. jenkinsii that is basically the same thing only in miniature. I gave it a moderate winter rest last year, watered maybe every third week or so. No fert until spring. I kept it in the house, with the lowest temp being about 62 and the highest around 69. It didn't bloom in the spring. I've already suspended watering for the winter, and it's still in the house. I'm wondering if I need to put it out with the nobiles where it's even cooler (med to lower 50's). This one is really a mystery to me.

[orchideric]

Dear Terri.

I can tell you that when kept dry both species can go down to 50 degrees. Dendrobium lindleyi often survives a greenhouse freeze in the north because it is so dormant during the winter. In general, D. jenkensii is considered less free blooming. It's awfully cute though.

Hope that helps, Eric

[kiki-do]

I have one and I was told to keep it completely dry between Thanksgiving to March and keep it on the cold side next to a window. New life will come in the spring. These are beautiful sprays of deep yellow/orangey and unfortunately, they are rather short-lived blooms. Lucky to get two weeks....which isn't bad, mind you, but the blooms are so gorgeous you hate to see them go by.
I think you'll love this one, no matter what it's called.

[D&S Mabel]

I have one labeled Den. Lindleyl syn, aggregatum, mounted on driftwood, that blooms every April - never seems to grow any bigger but it does bloom.

It grows outside year round (only comes in if temps drop to near freezing). From November to late February, I pretty much ignore it to where it probably gets watered every other week, with no fertilizer. We still have warm, dry (low humidity) weather in the winter and I have been afraid to let it go with no water at all. Otherwise, during the rest of the year, I treat it like a cattleya but with mostly very bright shade light conditions and water it every 4-5 days and fertilizer every other watering.

At the same time, I have another one labeled Den. Aggregatum var. majus that was a Home Depot Orchid-in-a-Bag purchase and it grows but doesn't bloom. All the same conditions except this ones in a pot.

It will get mounted on cork this spring!

[VickiC]

Thank you very much for your help, everyone.....Eric, Terri, Kiki and D&S Mabel!

As for growing it in proper conditions, I can supply all that it needs except a temp. that it would be happy with, I believe. Since it needs high light, it's not getting enough on the table in front of the east window, so in order to increase light for it, I would need to move it to my orchid room. This is not at all a problem, other than the temp. in there may be too hot for it, from what I understand. ?? At this time of year, the day temp. in the room is between 80-85 degrees, mainly because of my T5s, and the night temp. is approx. 55-65 degrees. It might feel a tad strange not to water it as often as my other orchids during winter months.....and it would definitely feel really strange not to water it at all because I'm not used to it....but I can do it!

Also, thanks for explaining the label to me, Eric.

Vicki

[frostedeyes]

all i can say is... water it early in the morning make sure it will dry when it reach by night. btw, the color of your leaves indicates your dendro is not getting enough sun. To make your dendro rebloom always feed them with fertz (daily or weekly habit). And move them in a sunny side! they enjoy light very much! Mine's growing happily. Getting 8 am sun to 1 pm sun! lol!
Tip- if you see a reddish tinge on the leaves or stem... it means your dendro is getting enough sunlight! happy blooming!
- if its yellowish / bleaching then its getting sun burn!

[Virgil]

I would mount this plant, it seems to do better than in a pot, also helps to not over water.

[jeem132]

i've had orchids that bloomed alot and produced no growth in the past. have you tried changing your lighting set up. try adding some buld with a higher blue spectrum. or if it's in a window. some times suplemental lighting helps