Sobennikoffia robusta and Dendrobium senile, anyone? - Orchid Board

Silje · #1 10-08-2013, 12:23 PM

Hello guys!

I bought a few new orchids last week and have come to realize I've got no clue how to treat a couple of them.

Does anybody here grow Sobennikoffia robusta, by any chance? Beforehand I knew that it's an angraecoid from Madagascar, and from searching online it looks like it prefers drier conditions than many of the others, but other than that... I'd appreciate whatever info and advice I can get.

The other one is a Dendrobium senile. Always wanted one. I think they look super-cute, but now that it's actually in the greenhouse, in a tiny net pot, I've realized I've got no idea whether this one prefers to be wet or dry, in shade or sun, mounted or potted. I've seen it likes a dry winter rest...other than that...

Brooke · #2 10-08-2013, 04:31 PM

I have two robusta and it needs a dry-er winter season. During the other three seasons I water it daily and during the winter I water it on sunny days. I have both of them growing in net pots and LECA sitting in about 1/4" of water. I will remove the shallow saucer in another month.

I grow them in a g/h in medium light. The one I've had for almost a year and the other I got two months ago. I haven't bloomed either of them.

Brooke

ELORCHID · #3 10-08-2013, 07:57 PM

I've had a robusta for about two years and I grow it with my phals in the same potting mix I use for my phals. Really easy plant to grow. I even neglected it for a month in the middle of summer and it didn't look like it had missed a watering.

Silje · #4 10-09-2013, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELORCHID

I've had a robusta for about two years and I grow it with my phals in the same potting mix I use for my phals. Really easy plant to grow. I even neglected it for a month in the middle of summer and it didn't look like it had missed a watering.

It actually looks more like a phal than any of the other angraecoids I've got in my collection. It's in a bark mix with the phals right now, but I will make an effort to hold back slightly on the water, I think.

Did it flower for you?

ELORCHID · #5 10-10-2013, 10:30 PM

It hasn't flowered for me yet, but it has grown lots of new leaves and a lot of roots. When I bought it it was in a 2 inch pot with a couple of roots and it is now in a 5 inch pot with lots of roots. It probably hasn't bloomed for me cause it was too small, although I'm hoping for some flowers very soon. Will post a picture when I get a chance. Good luck with your plant, keep us posted.