Need help with deciduous Dendrobium

[Paul Mc]

OK, so I made a mistake. I'm terrified of deciduous Dendrobiums for some reason, but I just realized I purchased one! It's moniliforme, and it still has leaves and is flowering!

Isn't it supposed to drop all of it's leaves about this time of year? I've had it for about 1 month now and have been watering it every morning because it's mounted.

Can anyone guide me on the proper care for this one, or deciduous in general? Especially for those that are mounted?

All I keep hearing is Brittany's song - "Oops, I did it again", lol... Yes, I bought about 15 orchids in the past month and I have no space for any of them, yet somehow I miraculously find the space! LOL...

[mspatt]

I don't know if this will help you or not. My moniliforme doesn't drop many of its leaves. I grow it outside in the spring/summer and give it plenty of water and fertilizer. It bloomed well in November. It has a few bare canes, but I just figured they are older ones. I have a few dens that are definitely deciduous and all I do is treat them like the other dens--they get a lesser amount of water, but it is still once a week. And I hold off on the fertilizer until Valentine's Day...Don't let "whatever" scare you--they're still easy to grow & flower

[Bud]

Dendrobium moniliforme, also called the Japanese Stone Orchid has a very interesting history in Japan from its rise as a medicinal herb promoting 'long-life' to it eventually becoming popular with orchid enthusiasts. It is a small epiphytic orchid native to East Asia (into Korea and China, as well as Japan and Taiwan) found growing on rocks and tree branches. This species will grow in moss, orchid bark or mounted to a cork/tree fern slab, or even on rock. Any media should very well draining while retaining some moisture. The plants do suffer without good air movement around the roots. This species does require a much dryer/cooler winter rest to set flower buds. It will tolerate winter temperatures down to 45 degrees or less if kept dry. In summer, the plants enjoy medium to very bright light. In many cultivars, brighter light produces a more vivid variegation/coloration in the leaves, which is a notable feature of these plants. In the summer, regular waterings and using a low nitrogen fertilizer are keys to good leaf colour and strong flower production. Many of the plants produce keikis that are best removed when they form roots and can be potted up and will bloom in a couple of years.

Do what you are doing with water and fertilizer while the plant is in bloom(your plant had an early blooming)...after the flowers are gone it will still retain green leaves and produce keikis(put it outside for the spring-summer and continue the regimen)...in the fall the leaves will start to turn yellow and drop...not all of it, but it will happen...then stop watering and fertilizer: you have to be disciplined and not water it no matter what(you can accidentally spray it when you are watering the plant beside it but be very adamant; or else you will have mainly keikis than flowers)... if you see the canes shrivel spray them a bit so it wont actually die; you need to wait until you see the buds come out then thats the time you start watering and fertilizer again in full force...because the plant will be flowering and growing leaves and new keikis for next season...its a cycle!

Never be scared, Paul...I look up to you as my mentor...you are a senior member...in fact I have learned so much from your postings here...

[Paul Mc]

LOL... Scared was probably a strong word, but I have avoided them on purpose. I wanted my first one to be in the Catasetum alliance as I felt they might be a bit easier for me to understand their natural paterns. However, that information really did help! Thanks everyone!

[rangiku]

Paul, just follow Bud's instructions and you will be fine. This was my first Den as well (about a year ago and potted in moss) and it's flowering on canes with leaves (supposed to be on leafless canes) and sending up new shoots. For me, they really are easy.

And, Bud, thanks for the comprehensive background. Learned a lot!

[bballr4567]

I just got my first and more than half of the canes have leaves still but some have yellowish ones hanging on. I'm not too worried but I hope I can do good.

[gnathaniel]

This species does not require a severe dry spell, in the natural habitat it receives regular moisture throughout the year with somewhat lower amounts in winter (as opposed to the Himalayan species which live in monsoonal climate areas). Keeping leaves on recent growths is also normal for moniliforme. mspatt's advice is right on, most Dens in this section don't want complete cessation of water during winter, and this one less so than others. Hope this helps!

--Nat

[syspila]

OK, I know this is an old thread but I thought I would try for some thoughts, anyway! I have a D. moliniforme I got a bit ago that has lost most of its leaves for the year and I still have it outside exposed to rain. We have had some downpours tho the 'chid's sphagnum does dry out pretty thoroughly after a couple to 3 days. I can pull it in under the eaves of the house so it gets less rain. When I pull all my plants in, in October, thats when I want to move it. Any thought on culture? This my way of getting used to Dendrobiums as I have never had tremendous luck with them.