Can you tell me something about this Dend. Farmeri?

[HighSeas]

I don't have many Dendrobiums. Maybe 5. I've tried to read up on the various types but it's so confusing when I try to apply what I read to what I actually have. Two are spiking now and forming buds. I assume that's because I "rested" them both during the winter. I'm still just learning.

Anyway....I have this Dendrobium Farmeri that I got from Del Favero's in Tampa about 2 months ago. It was on it's way out of bloom when I made this "impulse" purchase. It was just such a beautiful show of fowers! It had four spikes!

I've got him in really bright light and have been feeding him along until today, I decided that it was time to deal with the issue of repotting OR mounting. I prefer to mount whatever I can. So I had a good look at him and oh boy what a mess! He's been in his pot for a VERY long time! While I was checking out his situation....I discovered five nubbins on leafless canes AND canes with leaves. Now I'm really confused. I thought they were a little more discriminate about "where" they bloom. Guess I'd better read some more!

My questions....Can anyone tell me more about their experiences with this species? Wouldn't it be a little odd if those nubbins are bloom spikes? I was thinking that it might bloom only once a year. I can't discount it because I have had quite a few plants purchased in bloom turn right around and bloom again. I read somewhere that if your Dendrobiums are putting out a lot of kiekis, they are being fed too heavily.

Either way, sooner or later I'm going to have to either mount him or repot. Any suggestions about how I go about that task? The pot is covered in roots and it's packed full! I considered just breaking the pot and hoping for the best. Of course, I have to wait now....

Any advice or information you can offer is greatly appreciated!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Dendrobium farmeri is a species in the section Callista.

Culture-wise it is very similar to Den amabile, (the species I own), and Den thyrsiflorum.

There are differences between the 3 orchids that can only be told apart if someone knew what they were dealing with.

Your orchid has a distinct bulge on the top 2/3's of the cane. That bulge doesn't exist for either Den amabile nor Den thyrsiflorum.

The other way to tell the difference between the 3 is the size of the plants. Den farmeri is a smaller plant compared to Den amabile or Den thyrsiflorum, with Dendrobium amabile being the largest of the 3.

Lastly, one other way to discern the difference between the 3 similar looking orchids, is by the lip of the flower. Den thyrsiflorum is the only one out of the three that has a completely yellow lip. The other 2 has a white or pink flushed margin around the lip.

In order to bloom correctly, it must be given a proper winter rest. A proper winter rest is no fertilization and a drastic reduction in the amount of water it receives. During this period watering only once every 3 weeks should ensure that the plant doesn't rot out, but still be properly hydrated, and will prompt the plant to initiate blooms during spring.

They bloom from the top nodes of each cane, where the segments are, not at the apex of the cane. They also do not bloom from the base of the cane. When they are ready to spike, the dormant eye at the top segment of the cane will enlarge and form bracts that are arranged to superficially resemble a pine cone, (more precisely, if you've ever seen Tillandsia stricta push out its flower bracts when spiking, they look nearly identical). As time progresses, the inflorescence elongates and the buds enlarge from between the floral bracts. When they are in full bloom, the inflorescence dangles pendulously with flowers that trail down in a cascade, pretty much superficially looking like how a bunch of grapes are arranged. They are quite beautiful when they are in bloom.

Flowers will not last longer than 1 week, but the entire process of producing flowers can take up to 1 month.

They can be grown cool to warm, (45 F - 100 F).

Provide moderate humidity (60% - 80%).

Moderate to good air circulation is appreciated.

Grow in bright indirect light.

During growing season, allow a slight complete dry out period before watering again.

Next to section Spathulata and Latouria, section Callista is the third in-line of Dendrobiums I like. It is a shame, I don't have the space to grow all of them.

[Optimist]

I've heard that breaking the pot and potting in a larger pot is possible. The pot shards simple become more medium and it desturbs the roots less. I like clay pots but do not look forward to repotting.

[HighSeas]

Thank you so so much! What a wealth of information! I really like this Dendrobium so the information you gave will help me tremendously!

Optimist...I'm thinking that your method is likely my only option. It should work! We'll see!

Thank you both!