Dendrochilum in S/H

[Jeff9]

Hello all,

I have grown some Dendrochilums myself in the past and found them to be quite easy and forgiving, if not disturbed.

So my question is how well do these fare in S/H seeing as they require large amounts of water, theoretically i was thinking they would thrive in it very well because of this, anyone can tell?

I'd like to put a few smaller Dendrochilums in my grandmothers house preferably picking them out specifically so one will bloom in every season of the year.
However it's not possible for her to lift and water the plants that's why i was thinking about getting them settled at home in S/H pots and thought Dendrochilums would be perfect choice for their high moisture requirement and nice fragrance.

Thoughts?

[ewcia1028]

Jeff9,I have two dendrochilums one wenzelli and magnum (small yet) in s/h and wenzelii is blooming every year with a lot of flower so I think it is a good choice for them.Happy growing

[Ray]

Yep, they do great - once you get them past the disturbance of being repotted.

[Jeff9]

Thats what i figured, thats very good to know. Thanks alot guys.

Ray - I was thinking about going about it this way:

I will order them online so the shipping will probably disturb them enough to make them sulk, i was thinking about repotting them in leca right away with empty reservoir.

Then when new growth/roots are visible fill the reservoir to make the roots adapt.


And optionally should i strip all the old roots of their velamen layer, i was thinking this would decrease the rot/fungi forming when the old roots are in the wet medium. Or do you reckon this will not be a factor?

Thanks again.

[ewcia1028]

Jeff9, when I repot them in s/h I fill the bottom with water so roots have some humidity and when they start to grow will grow down nicely,but that is my opinion

[Jeff9]

Yeah hopefully Ray will clarify

[Ray]

I moved mine straight from bark when I got them. They sulked, but I kept them moist and very humid, and they recovered fine.

I would NEVER strip the velamen off of roots!!! Even if there was real logic for doing so, it is impossible to strip ONLY the velamen layer; there are other layers in between the velamen and the "core string", and if damaged, the roots die.

[Jeff9]

Yes but did you repot them when new roots where forming? It seems Dendrochilums in general flower before maturing their pbulbs so if they spike should i cut the spikes to preserve energy and allow them to do the s/h switch?

I've stripped the outer layer on many backbulbs it works well for me, it still provides the stability and the roots from the new growth adapt to the new media and the old one cause minimum rot issues.

[Jeff9]

Order placed

Dendrochilum abbreviatum
Dendrochilum cobbianum
Dendrochilum filiforme
Dendrochilum javieri
Dendrochilum wenzelii

Expecting arrival this week or monday