Gorgeous new dendrobium houkuense, culture tips?

[Dalachin]

Just got an amazing dendrobium houkuense from diamonds orchids/Peter T. Lin. 20+ bulbs and 9 flowers! I haven’t found a whole lots of culture advice on this one… is it true that it prefers cool but does fine in warmth (my mounted area is mid 80s F in the days, 10 degrees cooler at night). Is it like other deciduous dendrobiums in needing a cool dry rest… how cool?

[Roberta]

What a gorgeous plant! That temperature range looks fine. Is there a chance that you can let it get cooler in winter, especially at night? I don't dry mine out, but it gets a chilly winter, growing outside which works where I live but not in where you are, of course. You likely can compensate for less winter cooling if you cut back the water (but provide humidity... and water occasionally, in habitat it gets overnight dew even when there is no rain)

[Dalachin]

Thanks for sharing! Good to know the conditions are fine for now, and I’ll have to consider what to do in late fall.

[alecStewart1]

I actually got a little Dendrobium hekouense from a plant show this weekend. I felt bad for it because it looked a little rough when I got it, but it's starting to look a smidge better.

From what I gather it's pretty similar to other deciduous dens.

It'll lose it's leaves and flowers this fall and winter, hold off a little on watering but definitely water if the pseudobulbs start looking like they're starting to shrivel.

Humidity around 60-80% is preferable and with cooler weather it'll mean you'll have to water far less.

I'll try to remember to take a picture of mine when I get home.

[Roberta]

Great find. Don't worry about its looking a little rough. Mine are (I have 2) bare more of the time than they have leaves. But bloom anyway. I got 4 flowers on a plant with just a couple of small leaves. So if it looks dead, it probably isn't.