What is the diffrenc in care for Dendrobium compaired to Phalaenopsis?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

"Den phals" belong to section Phalaenanthe in the genus Dendrobium.

Dendrobium is such a super genus that many are separated into sections.

"Antelope types" are in section Spatulata.

"Nobile types" are in sectiion Dendrobium.

These three sections you should encounter quite a bit.

[amaiakaberry]

I think mine is the den-phal type you guys are talking about. So how do you cut the flower spike? Is it the same as how you'll cut a phalaenopsis'? ANd also, I read somewhere that at one point all the leaves will drop, is this true?

[RosieC]

Den Phals usually have a spike out of the top of one of the canes. You should be able to see where one starts and the other finishes. Just cut it off with sterile knife or scissors down close to where it joins the cane.

Den Phals don't drop their leaves every year like some other Dens. They may start to loose leaves on really old canes. One I have that was flowering 2.5 years ago is starting to lose one or two leaves on the cane which was in flower then.

Some Dens loose all their leaves every year in winter but if it's a Den Phal that would not normally happen.