Dendrobium Spectabile-Species, Need help with culture.

[Doug'sWindowGarden]

I just picked up a Den. Spectable species plant at the Central Florida Orchid Show this weekend. It was an impulse buy. There were a few on display in bloom and I thought they were awsome. They were pretty big and smelled great. The plant I bought is in a 4 inch pot, it has 4 canes with 2 to 3 leaves on each cane and a couple more with no leaves. The tallest cane is only 7 inches to the bottom to the leaves. I was hoping someone here might have some experience with this orchid. I didn't ask all of the questions I needed to in regards to the culture of this plant. Any information would be helpful. Blooming size, Amount of light and so forth.

Thanks, Doug

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Doug'sWindowGarden

I just picked up a Den. Spectable species plant at the Central Florida Orchid Show this weekend. It was an impulse buy. There were a few on display in bloom and I thought they were awsome. They were pretty big and smelled great. The plant I bought is in a 4 inch pot, it has 4 canes with 2 to 3 leaves on each cane and a couple more with no leaves. The tallest cane is only 7 inches to the bottom to the leaves. I was hoping someone here might have some experience with this orchid. I didn't ask all of the questions I needed to in regards to the culture of this plant. Any information would be helpful. Blooming size, Amount of light and so forth.

Thanks, Doug

Hi Doug,

I've been growing my spectabile for about 2 1/2 or 3 years. It was sold to me as NBS but it was smaller than your plant...false advertising. It's first blooms happened last Spring and it is currently in bloom. It has also put out a new bulb that is half way developed and there's another short spike waiting for it's turn to bloom. I'm estimating from the description of your plant and with the proper care that yours could possibly begin spiking by next February. Follow the link to read more about my cultivation techniques.
Good luck!
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ch-blooms.html

[Doug'sWindowGarden]

Thanks for the info Junebug that was very helpful, thats a great looking plant. How big is the pot its in? How tall was the bulb when it first bloomed? Do you leave it outside all summer?

Thanks Again,
Doug

[WhiteRabbit]

I have read that fertilizer should be withheld from Sept til new growth begins in spring to get this to bloom

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Doug'sWindowGarden

Thanks for the info Junebug that was very helpful, thats a great looking plant. How big is the pot its in? How tall was the bulb when it first bloomed? Do you leave it outside all summer?

Thanks Again,
Doug

Thanks, Doug. My plant is currently growing in a transparent plastic, ventilated orchid pot with a few pieces of styrofoam peanuts added to the base. I added the peanuts to ward off root rot because it's grown outdoors without protection from heavy rains. For stability I seated the plastic pot in a larger terracotta orchid pot with some chc fiber stuffed between the tops of the two pots. Between the pots and below the fiber there are more peanuts.

When my spectabile was delivered it was growing in a 2" plastic pot and it was very rootbound. I transplanted it right away into a 4" pot. The roots were tightly compacted and healthy so I didn't pry them apart before the transition. Last summer the roots had filled the pot so I bumped her up to a 5 incher. I keep root pruning to a minimum because Dendrobiums tend to sulk after a repot.

My medium is a custom mix for my growing conditions. It drains freely and dries rapidly so I don't have to fret about too much moisture during our frequent summer storms. I religiously water and mist my spectabile at least once or twice daily when the weather is hot and dry

Also, less water and discontinue the fertiizer during our cooler months. I think that topic was mentioned in the other link but I may have forgotten to address it. Some northern OB members will state specific months to withold things, but our seasons are different and lately they've been unpredictable. Just go with your instincts and you should be fine.

[Doug'sWindowGarden]

Thanks again Junebug for the great info. Since we have almost exactly the same climate, I'm going to try to find a good spot outside to put it. I have a lot of trees shading my yard, but get good moring to midday sun. I just have to watch and see where I can give it about 6 hours of sun light out there. I'm going to leave it in the same pot for now until it is obviously to big for the pot or the mix starts to go bad. It doesn't drain as well as yours so I'll just have to watch my watering. If you can think of anything else or any quirks you have had with your baby I greatly appreciate the info.

, Doug

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Doug'sWindowGarden

Thanks again Junebug for the great info. Since we have almost exactly the same climate, I'm going to try to find a good spot outside to put it. I have a lot of trees shading my yard, but get good moring to midday sun. I just have to watch and see where I can give it about 6 hours of sun light out there. I'm going to leave it in the same pot for now until it is obviously to big for the pot or the mix starts to go bad. It doesn't drain as well as yours so I'll just have to watch my watering. If you can think of anything else or any quirks you have had with your baby I greatly appreciate the info.

, Doug

You more than welcome. Just thought of something else on the subject of lighting. It would probably be wise to start your plant out with less sun exposure and than mine. To be safe I'd start out with 3 hours of early morning eastern exposure first, and then gradually acclimate it to higher levels for extended periods. I wouldn't want your baby to get burnt.

[bowmag]

my is in a 12' basket in coconut chips and the canes are about 18" long it is in spike.