latouriate dendrobium

[NikkiM]

I recently bought a latouriate dendrobium from Lowes as a rescue. I have no idea how to take care of it. I have managed to save it so far. In the past month or so, it has given me 2 new growths. can someone tell me what kind of den is this? The growing methods best suited for her? Google just isn't helping me much for her.

[rbarata]

I believe latouriate is the same as laturia so here's a
Care sheet

or this one or here.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Little typos sneak in sometimes. It's section Latouria. This is a species, but you can look up orchid species in the
Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia
For bigger genera IOSPE often has a listing of the species in different sections. It does have a listing of Dendrobium section Latouria species.

Your Hawaii Stripes will be happy if you keep it warm, brightly lit, and well-watered and well-fertilized all year.

Well-watered means soaking the pot, then letting it get almost dry between waterings. If it stays too wet it may rot. The best way to check the moisture in the center of the pot is with a wood cooking skewer. You can read about it here:
Using skewers to determine when to water

The medium tends to last 1-2 years before it breaks down and you need to repot. Many people use medium to coarse bark for these. Something that retains too much water isn't a good idea.

Good luck! Show us photos when it blooms!

[Dollythehun]

From Marble Branch farms:This magnificent Dendrobium hybrid has already received numerous awards including a First Class Certificate, the highest flower quality award of the American Orchid Society, for a plant exhibited in June of 2014. It cleverly draws from three different sections of the genus, the Latouria Section (about 50%) for ease of culture, the Phalaenanthe Section (about 35%) for good color and upright spiking habits, and the Spatulata Section (about 15%) for and interesting and wide spreading flower shape. The neat, leafy plants are fairly compact and produce arching sprays of 6 to 12 magnificently striped flowers over three inches across that last well for several months. Spikes occur most frequently from mid-winter to early summer, but can occur at almost any time of the year on mature plants. Each mature growth will spike several times from bloom nodes near the tip of the canes, so older plants can have a half dozen or more open at one time, producing a spectacular show. These are young seedlings in plastic net pots from the second making of the cross using the exact original parents, and many will flower for the first time in 2016, but continue to improve for years to come. Grow this orchid rather bright, with plentiful water and excellent drainage, and perhaps a bit less water in the winter months when daylight is reduced. Warm to intermediate temperatures (55-95F approximately) will suite it just fine.

[NikkiM]

Thank you for taking time to reply. I am fairly new to growing orchids and have a few phals, catts, an oncidium, and one den. I mostly get my info from youtube videos and other peoples experiences. This den was just sooo confusing to me. How long until it is considered blooming size?

---------- Post added at 03:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:41 PM ----------

So is this den considered a den-phal?

[rbarata]

Additional info:

Light: Den. Hawaii Stripes is composed of species of which 39% take high light and 31% take medium light. It may be tolerant of dappled light and bright indirect light conditions.

Temperature: Den. Hawaii Stripes is composed of species of which 64% take hot temperatures and 56% take warm temperatures. Grow this hybrid in warm to hot conditions, or 19°C to 29°C at night.

Watering and medium: 50%-60% humidity. Keep moist in the Spring-Summer, when plant is in active growth. Grow in a pot with porous, free-draining media. The pot should be small for plant size. Fertilize weekly, weakly (one quarter to half the normal dose). Reduce water/feeding during the cooler months. Common media: fir bark, coconut chunks.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by NikkiM

Thank you for taking time to reply. I am fairly new to growing orchids and have a few phals, catts, an oncidium, and one den. I mostly get my info from youtube videos and other peoples experiences. This den was just sooo confusing to me. How long until it is considered blooming size?

---------- Post added at 03:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:41 PM ----------

So is this den considered a den-phal?

Dollythehun and rbarata's most recent posts give you cultural information. It is a hybrid, only 35% is in the Phalaenanthe Section of Dendrobiums ("den Phal"). Per Dollythehun's post, 50% is in the Latouria Section, and the instructions she gave should work just fine.

To give the excellent drainage required, I would plant it in chunks of something that will not break down, like the "lava rock" sold in landscaping areas of home improvement stores. Break the lava rock into 1-inch pieces before repotting.

I have a Dendrobium spectabile which is also in the Latouria Section, and it first bloomed when the newest pseudobulb (fat stem the leaves grow from) was 6 inches tall.

[NikkiM]

thank you so much for the information. Is it usual for the plant to have 2 growths at the same time, or is it because it was in bad shape when I purchased it? If you look at the photo I added you can see the 2 growths.

[estación seca]

Most Dendrobiums make multiple growths when they are even slightly happy.

[Dollythehun]

Porter's Orchids lists that as an "Intermediate type." Which is not particularly informative. I grow my Den-Phals and Lauts. In small clay pots with medium bark. I water less and feed less in winter and judge by the "heft" of the pot. Learn what it feels like when wet and what it feels like when it's dry, then water. No, two canes is not unusual.