Need Dendrobium advice

[The Orchid Boy]

I rescued a Dendrobium aggregatum v. majus and a Dendrobium Thongchai Gold 'Viroj' yesterday. The aggregatum seems nice sized, healthy w/ lots of p-bulbs ranging from tiny (2cm) to larger (6 cm). The measurements are just the p-bulb, not including the leaf. The other one is a dendro-phal type I think, and has 2 mature growths with 1 or maybe more starting. The first is in a platic pot in bark, second is in sphag in a platic pot. I just read that the aggregatum can be a little tougher to grow and needs a cool and very dry winter. I've never had a dendrobium before and can use all the help I can get.

[Bud]

I have both of your Dendrobiums.
I let the aggregatum stay in a bright shaded window and gradually have its winter rest by watering every other week starting mid December and by mid January no water for two weeks then back to every other week by February; every other day until I see new growth and flowers then regularly give it warmth, sun and water....just watch out for scales and fungi
the Den Phal will not need rest period but needs regular watering regimen, warmth and bright shaded light
both must be in a bark mix unless you have mastered the skewer method then by all means grow in moss....
both must be given weekly wealky fertilizer except when you start the winter rest

[Baz in Oz]

OB, growing conditions may be different in your part of the world but down here I have found my hard cane Dens suffer badly unless they get the 'dry winter' treatment. What happens is that the eyes from which the next growth appear rot and I have lost otherwise healthy plants for that reason.

Last winter, I gave all my Dens this treatment and they now have healthy new shoots and roots.

I asked longtime successful growers in my orchid society and was assured this is the only way to go.

I have been fighting to get two aggregatums to grow and tried composted pine bark in a plastic pots and tree fern mounts without success. The plants refused to send out roots. In desperation I moved to cork bark mounts and now have new healthy roots and shoots appearing.

Baz

[Queenslander]

I also have the 1st Dend. Didn't do so well in a pot, but once moved to a bark mount, it flourished, even sent out a flower spike, 3 months later.

[The Orchid Boy]

I grow under T5s and temps are quite warm (85F-65F) year round with 50%-60% humidity. The second dendrobium is potted in moss and the first in bark. I think I'll keep the first in moss, that's what I grow all my cattleyas in. About the aggregatum, what would you suggest for repotting (will probably wait till spring)? With my low humidity I don't know if it would do well mounted, or would it? I thought about a clay pot with a bark, charcoal, perlite mix for potting.

[The Orchid Boy]

What about basket culture in a wooden basket with straight sphag or line w/sphag and use a bark mix? I wouldn't be able to hang the basket under my T5s but I could set it on a wire shelf or boost it up with a clay pot or something. Would the aggregatum do ok in a basket w/ straight sphag if I let it thoroughly dry out and wait a day or two before watering just to be sure?