Dendrobium Species Acquisition

[MattWoelfsen]

In the past, I stayed away from Dendrobium because every acquisition died or their presentation without blooms was not appealing, or they were too big to fit in my grow space. Last summer I came across Dendrobium moniliforme. I studied their culture and tried to provide their requirements. These are such forgiving plants. After a winter of small, pencil thin canes, they have started to sprout leaves.

Because of this limited success I started to look for other Dendrobium that might be as easy to grow as D.moniliforme: small in stature; pleasing to look at--without blooms; and easy to grow. I found these three Dendrobium on eBay and was able to win them at auction.


Dendrobium lichenastrum by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr


Dendrobium jenkinsii by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr


Dendrobium speciosum v. pendunculatum by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

The plant and photos come from eBay vendor cgaxquai. I have bought plants from him a year ago, so I was comfortable that he was a reliable source, plus he received niknik's endorsement.

[IcePenguin]

Nice purchases! I have aprox. 80 den species including all the ones you've mentioned. Moniliformes are pretty forgiving. I have maybe a dozen, half in bloom right now. Good light, ease up greatly on watering in winter and they are happy. Linchenastrum I water year round, bright light. Jenkinsii I give a winters rest with bright light. Your Speciosum v. pedunculatum appears to need to grow some before it will bloom. I ease up watering in winter til I see new growth and then resume regular watering. Your plants look very healthy. I think you'll love growing them v

[nikkik]

Wow, Matt they all look fantastic! I look forward to watching how you do with them. Dendrobiums are beautiful, but I tend to admire them from afar, because they don't grow well for me. Congrats on your new plants!

[Subrosa]

I have a speciosum pedunculatum myself, and while it was in my cold room about 3" from a T5HO bulb the new growth was more burgundy than green. Now that it's in warmer conditions, but lower light it's reverted back to green, but I can't wait to be able to work it into full sun outdoors!

[shushu45]

Wow they r all very nice.

[MattWoelfsen]

My Dendrobium haven't arrived. In the meantime I'm enjoying this Dendrobium reflexitepalum. Picture and plant came from incredible orchids, aka Seattle Orchids. It doesn't look like a typical Dendrobium.


Dendrobium reflexitepalum by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

[MattWoelfsen]

I bought this Dendrobium pendulatum 02/03/14 at my orchid society meeting. Our guest lecturer was Alex Chalmers, AOS judge, and freelance orchid vendor. This is what it looked like when I brought it home. Notice it had some yellowing leaves.


Dendrobium pendulum by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Two months later, this is how it looks. The leaves have all dropped, replaced with flowers.


Dendrobium pendulatum by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Here is a close up of the flowers. You can see little green spikes right below the fully opened flowers. They are also on the opposite side of this stalk. These will eventually bloom--I hope!


Dendrobium pendulatum by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

This plant is in a bright southern facing room. I water it every other day. These flowers are fragrant.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by IcePenguin

Nice purchases! I have aprox. 80 den species including all the ones you've mentioned. Moniliformes are pretty forgiving. I have maybe a dozen, half in bloom right now. Good light, ease up greatly on watering in winter and they are happy. Linchenastrum I water year round, bright light. Jenkinsii I give a winters rest with bright light. Your Speciosum v. pedunculatum appears to need to grow some before it will bloom. I ease up watering in winter til I see new growth and then resume regular watering. Your plants look very healthy. I think you'll love growing them v

Thank you for this advice. I was wondering if any of these new plants require winter rest.

Thank you niknik, Subrosa, and Shushu45 for your comments. I am looking forward to what these new plants will teach me. Fortunately, they are small, except for the pendulatum...and they are not as expensive as some other plants I have acquired. Not that I buy plants based on how cheap they are! LOL!

[IcePenguin]

For moniliforme I greatly reduce the watering come mid Novermber. I let them dry out completely and wait a few extra days before I water again vi do not soak them. When new growths appear I start increasing my watering. Jenkinsii does get a total winters rest. I stop watering around Dec. 1. And resume late March or so. Linchenastrum I water year round but let dry out before watering again.
Matt, I also have a reflexitepulam. Cute little pink blooms. I like orchids like this that have interesting foliage. And with bright light the foliage has a nice burgundy colored tinge to it. Den. equitans is another den with interesting foliage and not one you see around much.

[catherinecarney]

I was talking with New World Orchids (of neofinetia fame) at the Columbus orchid show about their Den. moniliformes, and they said that the species is quite cold hardy, potentially to below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Den. kingianum in all its myriad forms is another nice small species. While it seems to need a cool, dry rest to initiate flowering for me, the little bit of extra effort is worth it for the honey-scented flowers in February and March.

Glad to hear that there are more people who are hooked on Dendrobium species in all of their variety. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Catherine