Dend. parishii - Orchid Board

Chiral224 · #1 06-07-2009, 05:01 PM

Hi all,

I bought my first dend. about a month ago. He told me it was blooming size, but...its really really small! I'm also concerned that the tops of the leaves are brownish-red...is that normal? or something with its growing conditions? Its in a large east window, potted in a fern bark mix and fertilized weekly (and weakly) with dynagro 'grow'.
Is this guy going to get any bigger? and have i already killed it???

smweaver · #2 06-08-2009, 07:39 AM

The photo is kind of small, but it looks like a healthy seedling to me. Definitely not a blooming-size plant, though (sorry). D. parishii is fairly small growing (think of it sort of like a "miniature" version of D. anosmum), so you shouldn't have to wait too long before it gets to be blooming size. I would suggest that you might think about repotting it. The pot it's in looks to me to be rather larger for the plant. Small seedlings like this also can benefit from being planted in straight NZ sphagnum moss, perhaps in a very small clay pot. My parishii's getting ready to bloom, and it consists of one ten inch tall leafless pseudobulb (with buds), along with a couple smaller pseudobulbs, and it's growing quite comfortably in a three-inch slotted clay orchid pot in sphagnum. The light conditions you describe sound good, although if you can put it outside in a somewhat shady spot (bright indirect light is to this species liking, in my experience, during its spring and summer growth phase) during the warmer months of the year, it will benefit from being outdoors. During the winter it needs far less water and will appreciate a fairly dry rest and as much light (direct sunlight is acceptable during the winter) as you can give it. Your plant looks healthy to me, just a bit on the small side--which is perfectly fine since parishii's a pretty fast grower and, as I indicated with the description of my plant, it doesn't need to get huge before you see blooms. Good luck!

Steve

Chiral224 · #3 06-08-2009, 09:35 PM

Thanks Steve,

Do you think its ok to repot it now? And how warm should it be outside? I live on the wet coast of Vancouver and if I had to hazard a guess on average summer temp I'd say low to mid 20's (C) with the occasional heat wave (last week was in the 30's!).
I'm pretty bummed about the size...I did pay blooming size price! But, as long as its healthy I'm happy!!
Oh also, should it be hanging? I notice the spike I have is definitely curving ...or should I stake it to grow upwards?

Sorry for all the very novice Q's

smweaver · #4 06-08-2009, 10:27 PM

The growths for parishii are naturally pendant. So don't worry about getting them to behave or cooperate by forcing them to grow upright. As far as your temperatures are concerned, I think what you have would suit this species just fine. In my experience, watering requirements (and respecting its winter dormancy) are as important (if not more so) than temperatures. Just try to keep water out of the new growths until they're a few inches tall (placing the plant under the overhang of a roof--and on a side of your home/apartment that doesn't get any hot afternoon direct sunlight--should be to its liking). If the plant were mine I would be comfortable repotting it right now, as this is the normal time of the year when it should be starting its new growth phase. Parishii's a pretty tolerant species, so don't worry about it too much and make the mistake of killing it with kindness (which is an easy thing to do with orchids). It really shouldn't need to be pampered too much.

Chiral224 · #5 06-12-2009, 10:56 PM

Thanks!

I have just one more quick Q...I'm reading about this 'winter rest'. Does this dend need one? Should I be watering it or waiting? Its all so confusing!

smweaver · #6 06-12-2009, 11:39 PM

Yes, this one needs a dry and cool winter rest. If you go to Orchid Culture - Charles and Margaret Baker, you can order a cultural sheet for this species (I think it's cheap, only something like $10 USD for 10 cultural sheets). It'll give you lots more information than I can provide, and it's a good way to start your own "orchid library." And no problem with the questions. That's one of the purposes of this site--and I ask lots of questions of my own too. Good luck.

Chiral224 · #7 06-13-2009, 05:05 PM

Thanks! I'll look into it when I have some extra cash.
In the meantime...

When do you end the rest? Its actively growing...so...???

smweaver · #8 06-14-2009, 07:41 AM

You end the rest when the plant decides to end the rest. In other words, if it's not producing new leaves and roots, then let it stay pretty dry. Once you see new growths starting to swell, resist the temptation to soak the plant and potting mix. I usually let the new growth get to an inch or two in length before I start giving the plant a little water. Once it gets a little larger (maybe two to three inches), then I start soaking it with each watering (which, at least I like to think, helps to mimic the monsoon season in its habitat, which coincides with lots of water). Again, the best bit of advice I think I can give you is to follow the plant's lead. If it wants to rest, don't try to force it to do anything other than that. But once it really starts to grow again, feel free to give Mother Nature a hand (in moderation).