Dendrobium care - Orchid Board

Nichola · #1 08-12-2010, 11:14 AM

now that I have successfully ID'd my new orchid (thanks peeps!) I need to know how best to care for it.

How much light does it need?

Watering?

Type of soil - at the moment it's in some generic soil with chunks of charcoal on top

Fertilizer? (amount of phosphorous etc)

I live in Malaysia so 90% humidity all year round and constant heat

thanks in advance

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 08-13-2010, 12:35 AM

Most Dendrobiums grow on trees.

In Latin Dendrobium means "tree life".

Dendro = tree

bium = bios = life

No soil. Bark. Use fir bark medium grade or small grade.

Moderate light. Not as bright as for growing Cattleya though.

Your humidity is fine.

Intermediate to warm, if it's one of those generic hybrids.

If it's a species, it's best to post what it is for specific lighting and temperature requirements.

Also, if it's a species, be careful, because some have a dormancy period. The Dendrobium nobile type hybrids have a dormancy period too.

Nichola · #3 08-13-2010, 12:43 AM

thanks

no idea what species it is though sorry

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 08-13-2010, 12:50 AM

Then most likely a hybrid.

Do you have pics?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 08-13-2010, 12:51 AM

Forgot...

Use a pot that is only as large as the root mass. Not too much larger or the roots all rot out.

Nichola · #6 08-13-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Then most likely a hybrid.

Do you have pics?

there are pics on this thread http://www.orchidboard.com/community...id-orchid.html

and have had a closer look and it's not in any soil at all, but charcoal - guess my friend got it from the orchid garden in KL like that

drone · #7 08-13-2010, 01:12 AM

Is it a big plant? The pot looks big.

If you plan to leave outside to the rain, stay with charcoal so it does not rot during monsoon.

Nichola · #8 08-13-2010, 01:19 AM

it is pretty big actually but now I'm scared to repot it as I've read that they don't deal well with change etc

it's going to stay indoors so don't have to worry about it rotting

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 08-13-2010, 02:00 AM

I read your posting for the ID of your Dendrobium.

Unless you have pics of the flowers, I would not say that it belongs to the Den phalaenopsis variety so quickly.

It could easily belong to the group of Dendrobiums belonging to the section Spatulata (aka Antelope Dendrobiums) which are just as frequently hybridized and sold in the hobby.

Nichola · #10 08-13-2010, 02:11 AM

no flower pics - all I know is that they were purple lol! I'm sorry for being so vague