Dendrobium Baby Pink--Info Please

[NewOrchidOwner]

I inherited my Dendrobium a couple of months ago and have learned all I know from reading these forums. It was in bloom at the time. The flowers have all wilted and fallen off now. It has a couple of new bulby things growing off the larger bulbs. I keep it under a grow light set to stay on 14 hours per day sitting on a humidity tray. It is potted in what looks like bark (clear plastic pot with drain holes inside a clay pot). I water by drenching the bark with weak fertilizer solution a couple of times per week and then let it drain. I have several questions.
1) Am I supposed to cut off the new growth (bulbs that are growing at the base of a larger bulb) or let them grow?
2) Do the leaves die back once blooming is done or do they keep going?
3) Do they need a rest period when I should cut back light--I live in Michigan so it will be getting colder in the basement where I keep it.
4) Some of the roots are white--I read that some owners let their plants soak when they water and then drain. Should I be doing that?
5) If I treat it well will it bloom again?

Thanks so much for any help you can give. I don't want to kill this beautiful plant.

[nutgirl]

Hi!

Welcome to the board.

1. Don't cut off new growth, that's likely where your next flower spikes will come from.
2. Some Dends lose their leaves on older canes but it shouldn't happen right away.
3. Some Dends require a rest period in the winter, others do not. Do you know what kind you have? Do you have pictures?
4. White roots are good. If they are growing well they will have little green tips. My Dends are mounted so they get water every day. When they were potted I soaked them good and then let them dry almost completely.
5. Yes, they will bloom again. They generally like lots of light and warmer temps. Again, it would help to know what kind you have.

Maureen

[Zoi2]

Hello and welcome to the OB.
I'll try to answer your questions but it would help if you could post pictures so we can get an idea of what den you have.
No, you do NOT want to cut off any new growth.
The leaf drop and winter rest period will depend on which type of den you have.
Yes, it will bloom again if you meet the conditions it needs.
How wet are you keeping the potting medium?
How much light is the plant getting?
Joann

[Orchid126]

Some dens are deciduous and lose their leaves every year, others every two years.

Dens need very bright light even those that are in their rest period.

Watering a couple of times a week seems excessive. What part of the country do you live in?