First Den. and clueless!

[caseydoll]

I just bought my first den. at Wal-Mart even though I have never really wanted one. But I fell in love with this one and it was only $11. At the time I thought if I killed it no biggie cuz it was cheap but in the few days I have had it I think it has become one of my faves. It actually had a label although who knows if it's the correct one (it was stuck in nice and snug like it's been there awhile). The label says D. Louise Anderson x Mary Trowse 4N (burana red).
I have read all the care sheets that everyone on here has recommended and looked through a ton of dendro posts but I still have a couple of questions. First off how do I know what kind of den it is? People talk about nobiles and phal types but how do I know which kind mine is? Also, it's currently potted in some kind of lava rock. I usually repot all my orchids when I bring them home but i've read they don't like to be repotted. Should I wait to do that? As you can see I'm pretty much clueless and probably shouldn't have bought it but it was calling my name. And it has a fragrance! Please help me!

[quiltergal]

Hmm.... there isn't a registered Grex name for Louise Anderson. Mary Trowse parentage is Den. Hula Girl X Den. schulleri. Can't find any info on the species Den. schulleri. It's name has most likely been changed. Den. Hula Girl is Den. Hawaii X Den. discolor. Your plant's slightly wavy petals probably come from the discolor influence. I would say it's probably an intermediate to warm grower, bright light.....not sure about winter rest. Anyone else?

IOSPE PHOTOS

Edited to add, it looks pretty healthy. Lots of newer roots and a nice new shoot peeping out. I really like this plant. It's different.

[Becca]

Ooooh lah lah Great find....I think I may have to take a trip to my local Walmart as much as I hate going there because they are always so busy. I can't help you on the what kind it is unfortunately....but thank you for sharing the pictures with us!

[philoserenus]

i hafta say that i really like the colour of the flower, the nice tints of green ^^. unfortunately the walmarts in Canada dun seem to carry any other kind of orchids other than phalaenopsis. which is maybe a good thing, otherwise, i dunno how many i would have at home by now, haha.

btw, dendrobiums dun mind being root bound much so i wouldnt worry too much about repotting frequently on a 'the pot's all full' mentality. i would repot if the media if it goes bad, but then lavarock is as inorganic as it can get, haha... and also by looking at how full the pot is, there's only 2 full canes with 1 half one and 1 new lead. lots of the space left to grow

thatz my 2-cent, good luck and have fun =)

[justatypn]

Sarah there are two types of dendrobiums, soft and hard. Yours in particular is a hard cane dendrobium which grows quickly during growing season and then go into a dry winter with high light. As for the soft cane's also known as "nobile" require good light to grow an flower well and also like to be fed and watered well during there growing season and then hold all fertilzers and just mist about once a week druing the winter months (just shy of the canes shriveling) and / or until new growth is well developed and when you see activity with your roots.

One way to tell the difference is that when a soft cane blooms it blooms off the sides of the cane (node's) and hard canes bloom from the apex (highest point) of the cane.

The hard cane loose there leaves and usually once they have produced blooms they will not bloom back off the same cane. I just today noted on a very old cane that was merely there for support of the other canes is producing new growth off this cane..not seen this before much less hear of it, so anything can happen when our chids are happy happy happy

[caseydoll]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I'm glad everyone likes my new one. Leave it to me to buy an orchid with a tag that offers no good info! I searched for it on google and came up with nothing too. I was wondering if it would hurt anything to withhold water for winter even though it has new growth now? From what I'm reading on here it seems like one should stop watering around the beginning of November or so? I'm so confused! I can tell you now that I am going to have a winter full of worry! When do the leaves start falling? Do the canes still look normal? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just determined to make this thing live! Now that I have showed everyone my pics I have even more pressure!

[quiltergal]

Sarah check out this other thread that discusses hard cane and soft cane dendros, and all the different groups of dendros.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...endrobium.html

My hard cane dendro does not shed it's leaves. Most hard canes have persistent leaves. Many of my canes are at least 3 years old and still quite leafy.

[caseydoll]

Duh! I just started learning about dens and already I'm confused! I think I read the posts wrong and confused soft cane with hard. Whoops! Thank you for the link. I read it before, over the weekend, but the info didn't really sink in until everyone responded to my posts. Do you think mine would be in group V on that post? I'm glad I at least have a shot at keeping this guy alive! (fingers crossed)

[quiltergal]

Group V seems like a reasonable deduction. I would guess based on the parentage that there are some phal types in there.

[flhiker]

Hi Sarah, I find that dens are kind of easy growers. I would keep it warm and with plenty of light and after watering allow the medium to dry out for a few days before watering again. I wouldn't worry they are very hardy (common sense go's a long way with these) If it looks like they need water give it some. As long as you don't allow it to sit in water you should not have any problems. good luck and keep us informed on how it go's and how you did it.