Dendrobium Sonia 'earsakul' - Orchid Board

Silje · #1 09-04-2012, 06:41 AM

Hello

A dendrobium newbie needs some advice, please.

I've got a rootless Den Sonia 'earsakul' that is now beginning to make new canes and roots. I probably received it with very limited root system and I didn't check it right away, but just kept watering it...with all the negative effects that had. Anyways, the plant is definitely alive, and now producing new growths, so I thought I'd mount it now, while it's in growth mode.

But before that I figured I should ask around a bit to find out whether they like being mounted, or if they do better in bark mix in a pot?

They are epiphytes, right? So it...should work?

What's your experience? Pot or mount?

NYCorchidman · #2 09-04-2012, 02:10 PM

I have never grown mounted orchids just because they dry out too fast.
However, I did have dendrobium sonia in the past and I grew it in bark mix in plastic pot. It did very well just like any dendrobium hybrid of similar kind.

Mix must be well draining and open. Mounting should work well given that you provide ample amount of water while it's in growth mode. While they are tough plants and won't die easily (main killer being wet mix and cold temperature), they do need lots of water and warmth to grow well.

Good luck! I love flowers of sonia. it's such a classic dendrobium!

WhiteRabbit · #3 09-04-2012, 02:42 PM

I think this is a Phalaenanthe type ? (Den-phal)

I have both potted and mounted (mounted is Den bigibbum v compactum). Both do well. Mounted needs frequent watering, in my case, daily most of the year, twice a day if weather is extremely hot and dry.

Silje · #4 09-05-2012, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I love flowers of sonia. it's such a classic dendrobium!

Me too! For me it is such a happy and strong reminder of great holidays and travels in Asia, and that's also why it was chosen amongst all the different dendrobiums I could pick and choose from.

I put it on a dry piece of wood with a bit of moss and coir...It will be interesting to see how it grows now. I like mounts, but I only have a few myself. This is by far the biggest plant I've ever try to mount. The others are small jenkinsiis etc.

NYCorchidman · #5 09-06-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silje

Me too! For me it is such a happy and strong reminder of great holidays and travels in Asia, and that's also why it was chosen amongst all the different dendrobiums I could pick and choose from.

I put it on a dry piece of wood with a bit of moss and coir...It will be interesting to see how it grows now. I like mounts, but I only have a few myself. This is by far the biggest plant I've ever try to mount. The others are small jenkinsiis etc.

Yeah, it's known as Thai orchids. Many Thai restaurants use its flower as garnish and I love to go eat Thai food. I wonder if its edible. hmmm

Yes, Snoia is rather tall for mounting I believe. Good luck!

wonderlen3000 · #6 09-07-2012, 04:49 PM

D. Sonia is too tall for mouting. Try potting in 4" pot (plastic or clay) with 50/50 large bark and charcoal or perlite. These phalaenopsis type like to be root bounded and hate repot and like to dry out between watering. The cane can grow over 2 feet tall so if its get top heavy, just put the pot into larger heavy clay pot or lean it against some other plants.