Dendrobium sociale

[troy1191]

Hi all!

I'm getting ready to figure out my winter care regimen; I have more deciduous Dendrobiums than anything else. One little guy I can't find much of anything about with my google fu! It's a Dendrobium sociale and I can't figure out what it would like for the winter.

Very dry rest? Less water? Normal water? Fertz at all?!

Any info would be appreciated!
-Troy

[WhiteRabbit]

good luck!

[NatalieS]

Wow, you weren't kidding about this one being hard to find info on. The taxonomy appears to be very confusing. Both Dendrobium sociale and its accepted synonym, Den batakense, are listed in the Kew list, but both listings say that they are synonyms for Den metrium?!? (see below)

World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Anyway, the Orchids Wiki says: Dendrobium sociale - Orchids Wiki

IOSPE says it is from section Grastidium, and the book I have on Dendrobiums confirms what IOSPE says about location and having stem-like pseudobulbs. It says section Grastidium usually grow in areas which have rainfall all year. It says the flowers last only a day and this is why they are not commonly grown by hobbyists, and also why there are problems with the taxonomy. Most or the plants listed under this section in the book say watering is required year-round. A few require a slight drying out between waterings in winter, but it doesn't seem like any of them require a proper winter rest.

Please note, I am not an expert! This is just the information I've found.

[troy1191]

Hi Natalie,

Thanks for the info, I suppose I'll just keep on trucking with this one. A little less water probably. I really like this orchid, it's a little small at the moment but it has very pink canes which are very striking even if the flowers don't last.

I tried to add some pictures to show the color (though my iPhone 3GS camera plus re-sizing and compression doesn't do it justice but you can get a feel for it at least)

Not sure if I did the attachment right

[NatalieS]

You posted your pictures absolutely fine. Your plant looks a little like my den subclausum, just with much larger leaves (or so it looks - it's hard to judge scale). Different section but also requires constant moisture. Obviously the stem-like pseudobulbs don't store much, or don't have to store much, because of the moist environment they grow in.