D. laevifolium & reflexitepalum

[Subrosa]

Just picked these guys up at a local place, Parkside Orchids. I was in a bit of a rush and went there just to pick up two Dendrobiums I saw on their website. Sadly they didn't have a D. violaceum, but the reflexipetalum is beautiful, and a quick look through the Dendrobium trays turned up this nice little D. laevifolium just starting to break dormancy:

[rangiku]

Cool leaves on the reflexipetalum and hope that red x sib is as red as you are hoping it will be.

[katrina]

Nice pick-ups!!

You know...my laevifolium never goes completely dormant. It'll drop leaves but it's growing new growths before the older ones drop. If that makes sense.

If you like both of these...keep your eyes open for Den dichaeoides. I think you'd probably like that one too.

[Subrosa]

Thanks for the suggestion, they had a couple of dichaeoides mounted.

[katrina]

As much as I like laevifolium...I like dichaeoides even better. Even when it's not in bloom the growths/foliage is very pretty. Yea, I think you'd really like it.

[Subrosa]

Doesn't dichaeoides prefer cooler temps? That's no problem right now, but come summer it will likely have to deal with extended periods with highs in the mid 80s and perhaps only a 10 degree drop at night.

[katrina]

I've had it for around 3yrs now and I really haven't found it to be any more fussy about temps than the laevifolium. At least not that I've noticed.

Mine goes outside in the Summer...which can sometimes mean temps into the 90's. Even in the Spring before the orchids go outside...the inside area w/lights can get well into the 80's.

If the temps start to get into the 90's I will give it a bit more shade...that probably helps a bit. Maybe?

[Subrosa]

That's about what I would be giving it climate wise, although extended periods in the mid to upper 90s possibly hitting 100 isn't out of the question. My backyard is part of a larger contiguous canopy so it stays pretty cool, I just worry about being able to supply enough light for anything other than shade lovers.

[Nepenthesguy]

Thread necromancy in progress!

I was wondering why cultural conditions you give the Dendrobium reflexipetalum? Also how is yours doing?

~R

[Subrosa]

I keep it in my paludarium, mounted. Temps are pretty steady, mid 70s to low 80s with very little nighttime drop. Light is fairly bright, about 6" below a 2 bulb T5HO fixture. I dunk it daily. It's growing, not as fast as I'd like, but it's steady.