Dendrobium care

[Freddie]

Hi all,

yet another thread. Got myself a lovely dendrobium a few months ago. It looks like the one pictured there:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...0128-20002.jpg

It bloomed late autumn/early winter and the flowers have now fallen off. I have read different things on their cultures, cold/warm growing, evergreen/deciduous... In a nutshell, I have no idea how to look after it. All I know is that there is no sign of the leaves dying back yet, so probably an evergreen.

Any suggestions?

[Discus]

Look up care instructions for cooktown orchids (Vappodes phalaenopsis / Dendrobium bigibbum) - I think you'll find this has so much of that in it's ancestry it should be more or less spot on.

[Merlyn]

Yes, Discus is right. I have one that looks just like that but isn't registered. It drops some leaves but is evergreen. I grow it under lights but it goes outside asap for the spring-summer-fall. They like to dry out between watering/fertilizing. I use 1/2tsp/gal of Grow More 20-10-20 urea free once a week while growing. Right now I don't fertilize because it's dormant and I cut back on watering.
.

[Freddie]

Merlyn, it is definitely that one. Also came with no name. Discus, I will look that up now. Thanks.

[Merlyn]

Well, Freddie, mine came with an UN-registered name that I can't find any info on, Den. White Bota.

Just found another one UN-registered also !
Dendrobium `Hidden Money

[katfrith]

I bought a dendrobium at Costco almost 4 yrs ago and it is still in bloom. Has anyone ever known of this or are you going to call me a liar. None of my other orchids have ever bloomed so well.

[Tsuchibuta]

Its not unheard of for some den hybrids to bloom year round. In my experience those that cannot bloom a den have yet to learn the art of neglect.

Phal type Dens usually need a cold snap to intitiate spiking. In terms of light i have found that the brighter the better. In my opinion you cant overwater on in summer, but in winter i only would water 2 times a month. Lastly the key is to keep them root bound all the time.

[Merlyn]

My mentor calls it "benign neglect" ! He also says if it's a Den put it outside ! When I started doing that all my Dens started growing and blooming like crazy !!!

[Leafmite]

I have one, noID, that has always started new spikes either as the old die or just after. The blooms are long-lasting and sometimes, there is a faint artificial grape scent. As all my other orchids bloom in between OS meetings, I took this one in, even though it is nameless. They are so easy and so rewarding. I just added two more to my collection. If these were strongly scented, they would be my perfect orchid.
Leafmite

[Freddie]

It seems to be doing very well so far but just did not know how to loom after it. I will try to cut down on watering although it did not seem to complain