trader joes dendrobium phalaenopsis. . .

[diego_p]

NoID. Very pretty though. This is the first time i have had one of these. i've done some reading up on them online so i feel condfident in providing the necesary care, but i would like it if someone with personal experience couldvchime in on some little pointers here and there.

A question i do have at the moment is if the canes/pseudobulbs look alright to you guys? Not that they arent plump or green, but other pictures i've seen of den phals show the space between leaves to be. . . . well much more spacious than the one i got. Also the leaves are pointing upward as if they were packaged in a sort of a tight manner that put them together as such. Third pic. Idk maybe its just me.

[stonedragonfarms]

Looks like this hybrid has more Den. biggibum compactum in its background than bigibbum phalaenopsis; whatever the case, they are both cultured in the same manner; year round water (with a frequency cut-back in the winter), bright light & warm temps.

[WhiteRabbit]

Lovely!
Looks good to me. It may have been growing in tight quarters, or it may just be how this one grows.

[NYCorchidman]

Very cute flowers!
I love these plants.

The leaves having little spacing is perfectly fine.
I have one that does it. Depending on what dominated in the make up of the gene, it can look like yours, which is more common on such shorter hybrids.

[diego_p]

Thanks guys, most reassuring. I cant wait to see this one grow and develope into (hopefully) a specimen. I dont plan to get rid of any of my orchids. Till death do us part lol.
Do you think an east window will suffice? I live in a basement apartment and only have north/east/west facing windows.
And what are some thoughts (if any) on the possibility of growing it under lights if necessary?

Thanks again guys. I apreciate it.

[NYCorchidman]

Well, yours already sort of look like a nice little specimen, unless it is a collection of a few plants stuck in one pot.

Let's say the whole thing is one plant. Then it looks like it is already growing in more than one direction.
Each direction will generate on average one cane per season, although it can make more depending on the plant and the winter care (most people in the temperate climate keep these plants on a cooler side and they stop growing during this time).

East window that gets good sun in the morning hours will be ideal, although it can take all day bright light too.
West exposure that gets good light for at least few hours in the afternoon should be also good.
North will keep this plant alive but not enough to help it bloom.

Under light should also work since this is a short plant. Just make sure the growing spike(s) do not go into the light bulbs.

but if you have bright window, why bother with light setup?

[diego_p]

Is that what a specimen plant is? Thats cool, i always thought when people referred to a specimen plant that it was one that has grown huge and has some age to it. Maybe even been propogated a couple times. But that is cool to know.

It does look to be one plant because there are the two 'medium' sized growths on the sides and two other tiny little ones in there as well. I am more excited now to see these other growths.

Do older canes rebloom as well?

[NYCorchidman]

Well, I don't think there's any clean cut definition regarding what specimen size is, other than what you mentioned: huge and old. lol

In a more loose term, plants with multiple growths can be referred to as specimen I think.

Anyways, yes, older canes may bloom.