Dendrobium canaliculatum

[avian]

Andy's Orchids had a sale so I looked through his site, did a lot of research and selected 3 plants that are easy growers according to his descriptions and would work in my environment. One of them is a Dendrobium canaliculatum which is mounted. Where would be the best place to hang this? Indoors or outdoors? If outdoors can I hang it off my lemon tree or hang it from a shelf? Outdoors it would get north sun exposure and also east or west depending on where I place it. Should it be protected against rain during the winter months (does rain here in So. CA although not a lot )? I read on one website that it should be kept fairly dry during the winter.
Any suggestions regarding the best care for this orchid would be appreciated.

[estación seca]

Mounts need to be watered every day in spring/summer/fall, and most need watering almost every day in the winter. (Maybe not this species, see below.) Put it where you will be able to do that and not let it slip for a few days. Letting mounts dry out even one day too long often leads to a severe setback.

As for the cold winter rain question... I just stumbled across an Australian Web site I am going to read in detail. You might consider reading it, too:
TeaTreeOrchid.com: Understanding, growing and breeding the Tea Tree Orchid Dendrobium canaliculatum

Here is a truncated extract from that site:

There are four key requirements to success with Dendrobium canaliculatum:

• Wet, Cold, Healthy Plant: Pick any two. As a rule, you cannot ever have all three for Tea Tree Orchids.
• No compost: Never allow decomposing organic matter around the roots of Dendrobium canaliculatum....[snip]
• Fresh air: Ensure that any media or mount is airy and does not compact or clog up....[snip]
• Adequate Light: Evidence from recent years where trees grew up and around my old bushhouse suggests I have previously underestimated a fourth critical requirement....[big snip] Dendrobium canaliculatum is ideal at around 40,000 to 60,000 lux (midday readings) and levels significantly below this for much more than a week or two will see the plants start to deteriorate....[snip]

I don't think you can get to 40,000 lux in your house without buying some lights.

[Roberta]

Depending on where in southern California you are, outside should be fine most of the year. Andy has it listed on his website as warm-intermediate, but the Baker culture sheet that describes habitat indicates that it could grow cooler. It would be interesting to know exactly where Andy grew it (a benefit of visiting an in-person open house which alas is not an option). (I have learned that he doesn't update tags when he discovers that something that might ideally grow warm actually can take more cool)

However, reading between the lines, I'd suggest that once nights head for 50 deg F (where I live that's not for another month but inland can happen sooner) you consider bringing it inside - as bright as possible. Another tidbit gleaned from having spent a lot of time at Andy's nursery... mounted plants dry very fast, so don't worry too much about keeping it dry. Andy's growing areas are crammed full of plants, arranged by temperature needs and light needs. The "winter rest" plants, including deciduous ones, are mixed into the general population based on temperature... everything gets watered. It doesn't seem to harm those that supposedly need dry winters (they do get cool nights). Remember, where they originate, even if it doesn't rain it is very humid and there is morning dew. Don't know about at your location, but even 4 miles from the coast, I have had very little dew... no rain yet, not holding my breath. It's a bonus when it happens but so rare that it's pretty irrelevant to orchid culture planning for about 90% of the time. You may cut back watering to twice a week or so if it is cool, but don't go too much less than that... if indoors, it'll dry really fast because humidity is lower when the heater is on so you'll need to water every few days to not have it dessicate.

[avian]

Thanks Roberta and Estacion. Right now it is indoors near a window but I will move it outdoors and probably hang it from some shelving as long as it is warm enough. No sun shining for the last few days any way, just overcast and supposed to rain at some point today. Getting down to the 50s tonight. Need to get more lighting inside the house for the orchids that are indoors.

On Travaldo's blog it is described as a hot growing epiphyte that can tolerate full sun and needs very bright light in order to flower. Also stated that during the winter months should be kept very dry but on the website cited by ES it states that they do not need a winter rest.

[Roberta]

Again, temper that "very dry" bit... orchids in the wild don't live in the desert. By my standards, the natural "very dry" is "damp and humid and chilly" in monsoonal regions. I guarantee that none of them get 5% humidity in winter...

[estación seca]

I've never grown it, but my takeaway from reading the Web site I posted and from studying the climate of that part of Australia - I would not even think of leaving it out in 50 degree rain. Remember this from what I posted above:

• Wet, Cold, Healthy Plant: Pick any two. As a rule, you cannot ever have all three for Tea Tree Orchids.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by estación seca

As for the cold winter rain question... I just stumbled across an Australian Web site I am going to read in detail. You might consider reading it, too:
TeaTreeOrchid.com: Understanding, growing and breeding the Tea Tree Orchid Dendrobium canaliculatum

Wow, this website is thorough! Very cool!

[DirtyCoconuts]

That advice reminds me of the old sign at the store

“I can do it fast, cheap, or well....pick two!”

[avian]

It's staying indoors for now. I'll keep it wet and, hopefully, healthy.