New to Dendrobiums- Kingianum

[greenpassion]

Can someone tell me if I can grow my newly purchased (but not yet acquired) Kinganium along with my phals and oncs? I keep the night time temps around 60, and up to 64/65 during the day, here in Vermont. Summer of course is much warmer. I have most of my orchids in S/H culture, and I water with my own Reverse Osmosis water. I planned to put this Kinganium into S/H culture when it arrives, as the seller told me it'd do great (he said he knows someone who actually grows his in water) I have never owned a Dendrobium before, and need education!!

[silken]

I've only had my kingianum for one winter prior to this one. But I grow it more like a Nobile Den. with a fairly cool dry winter and no ferts from fall till bloom. It bloomed well last spring with this treatment and is currently starting to grow some bloom spikes.

[Fairorchids]

Den kingianum should be in coolest spot in your S/H. I have received plants from 4 different nurseries, grown in:

Pure spaghnum (J&L)
1/2" rocks (Santa Barbara)
medium size bark (Dick Doran & Sunset Valley)

In other words, you can grow it in just about anything, as long as you water accordingly.

[greenpassion]

Thanks for all your replies. I'm always a little nervous when it comes to acquiring an orchid before I really know what to expect.

[catherinecarney]

I've found Den. kimngianum to be very forgiving of all my newbie mistakes. From what I've read it does need a cooler/dryer rest period in the fall to bloom (and I must have done something right since it's spiking), plenty of light year round, and plenty of water when it's actively growing.

Mine is in a bark/charcoal/perlite mix with a little bit of sphag in a sunny southern window where it gets dappled shade from the taller plants in front of it. Winter night temps around 60, day temps into the mid to upper 60's. I moved it out to a south facing porch last year where it received dappled light, Ohio summer conditions (rain, heat, humidity, wind, more rain, and so on) and it thrived...Left it outside until the day temps were in the low 60's and the nights were dropping below 50.

Have fun with it and enjoy the wonderful fragrance when it blooms!

Catherine

[greenpassion]

What about growing this kinganium under lights? I have my phals on a glass sheet about 4 ft from naturla light LED tracklighting, and they are all spiking and blooming. Mini's as well as the larger ones. But will this Dendrobium do well with this light? I don't have a southern window...

[catherinecarney]

I haven't tried mine under lights, but I do have two T5 HO strips that I've put some of the catts under and they seem to like it. It's my understanding that Dewn. kingianum likes higher light than phals, but if you move it closer to your LED's that might work. Hopefully someone with more experience will be able to help.

Catherine

[Bud]

you may grow kingianum in S/H and under lights....the rest period is not drastic withholding of water but instead of spraying it twice a week in summer you spray it every 10 days in winter....water levels on the S/H receptacle must be maintained....in its environment these orchids get morning dew and the coastal region of Queensland, Australia is not arid dry; in fact it has high humidity and moisture. Focus more on withholding fertilizer totally in winter than moisture issues.

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't give mine a rest period, tho it gets cool temps and less water in winter ...

[Discus]

kingianum are tough and forgiving.
They seem to like quite a bit more light than phals though.
I give mine a bit of a winter rest, but not as "hard" as Den. nobile.
Mine is in coconut husk chips; it flowers well every year.