Deciduous Orchids - Orchid Board

Izzie · #1 03-17-2010, 11:45 AM

Finally did some brief searches to figure out what exactly Deciduous 'chids are!

So they basically function like a deciduous tree, as opposed to evergreen?

Are these a type that beginners should stay away from?

Do they grow new leaves each blooming season?

Tindomul · #2 03-17-2010, 12:16 PM

I'll talk about what I know.
There are plenty of decidous phalaenopsis orchids. These in the wild, live in forests that are seasonally dry and the plants drop their leaves during this time to conserve water. However, in cultivation they don't do this so long as you keep them moist year round. I think these are pretty easy to grow, you just have to keep them moist enough to prevent leaf loss. If you grow them like other phals, in a dry house environment, they will shed leaves and may not get the signal to grow again. So I would say to grow more humid than you would normally grow phals.
I think there are some decidous dendrobiums that loose their leaves and go dormant for a while regardless of whether or not you change growing conditions. Then when the time is right, they grow again, new pseudobulbs with leaves and all.

Izzie · #3 03-17-2010, 12:21 PM

Thanks Tindomul! This is so fascinating.

If kept in my house, I'd be able to keep moist with waterings, but I cannot get the humidity more than maybe 30%- living in dry CO with heat/AC. All I can provide are humidity trays.
Would that mean that deciduous orchids are a no-go?

I do have a place where I could provide a winter rest- niche next to fireplace that gets pretty chilly in the winter- 50 at night, maybe 65-70 in the day.

Tindomul · #4 03-17-2010, 12:28 PM

I really don't know. However I will give you my limited experience. I once had a Phal. gibbosa, which is in the subgenus Parishianae, and these are decidous small sized phals. I kept it for a long while in terrarium where humidity was around 50% + all the time. I saw that it was not getting enough light and I moved it to a pot and placed it next to all my other house plants, phals and other orchids. It lost all its leaves, and the roots followed soon after. It didn't like my apartment's climate. Too dry (less than 30% all winter long).

Izzie · #5 03-17-2010, 12:32 PM

D: sad day!
I've been wondering if I should try a terrarium. I have an empty 3gal fish tank that isn't too ugly, that I'd be able to get a light for in the hood- but wouldn't be an "orchid" light, just a bright aquarium light.

orkie · #6 03-17-2010, 02:04 PM

I grow several deciduous Dendrobiums in my house and pretty much never worry about humidity with them, they like a cool dry winter (ignore them), I put them outside for the summer on my fire escape. They do not re-grow leaves on old canes, but grow new canes with leaves each year (so you have a bunch of bare canes in winter). Most of mine are nobile-type hybrids and flower profusely each year, plus a few other species.

orkie · #7 03-17-2010, 02:05 PM

If you look at the AOS website Dendrobium care sheet, it tells you which ones are deciduous.

trdyl · #8 03-17-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

I really don't know. However I will give you my limited experience. I once had a Phal. gibbosa, which is in the subgenus Parishianae, and these are decidous small sized phals. I kept it for a long while in terrarium where humidity was around 50% + all the time. I saw that it was not getting enough light and I moved it to a pot and placed it next to all my other house plants, phals and other orchids. It lost all its leaves, and the roots followed soon after. It didn't like my apartment's climate. Too dry (less than 30% all winter long).

I wonder if it would make a difference if it was grown in S/H.

Izzie · #9 03-17-2010, 02:18 PM

Do you have to provide special care for nobile types as well? I haven't quite wrapped my head around that one either.

orkie · #10 03-17-2010, 05:00 PM

The special care I provide is:

I put the nobile types outside from May until Thanksgiving in partial to full sun (until temps start to hit 40 at night), water every 3 days or so depending on rain, potted in coconut husk chips. No fertilizer after August, as it inhibits flowering.

In winter I put them in a west facing window right up against the glass to keep them cool and ignore them totally until they flower and make new growths, then I start watering/fertilizing again.

I would say they are my most rewarding orchids in terms of flowering-smell great and can have hundreds of flowers. I think they are very easy to care for.