Phalaenanthe Dendrobia?

[brsucculents]

Can anyone tell me if these are Phalaenanthe Dendrobiums? There is a terminal erect inflorescence. One of them appears to have kept it's leaves last year. Phalaenanthe Dendrobiums should bloom in the Fall or possibly Spring. The first plant is D. Aridang Blue (pictures 1-3) and the second plant D. Burana Pink Saphire No. 12 (pics 4&5).

[PaphMadMan]

Yes, they are genus Dendrobium, section Phalaenanthe, at least primarily. These hybrids both have ancestors from other sections as well, so characteristics might not match with expectations for pure Den Phal types.

[brsucculents]

Thanks. PaphMan. You're a real asset to the community! I wanted to know to provide the correct temperatures this Winter. Last Winter most of my Dendrobiums looked reallly bad because I was treating them all the same... no to little water and very cool temps.
Btw, what is the plural of Dendrobium?

[WhiteRabbit]

These don't like getting too chilly. No lower than mid 50s at night to be safe. Warmer is probably better.

[PaphMadMan]

Originally Posted by brsucculents

Btw, what is the plural of Dendrobium?

Ah... good question. I'm sure you could get several different answers. Here's one.

The vast majority of orchid genera are not actual Latin words, they are "Latinized" according to the conventions of botanical nomenclature. So don't try to pluralize them as Latin nouns. We use even the obscure ones like common names in a forum like this, so just add the letter s like most common nouns in English. In that context they would not have to be capitalized - dendrobiums or Dendrobiums. But if you're talking about a genus in a formal scientific context it should be capitalized and italicized, and don't try to pluralize it at all - Dendrobium, plants of the genus Dendrobium.

---------- Post added at 07:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:22 PM ----------

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

These don't like getting too chilly. No lower than mid 50s at night to be safe. Warmer is probably better.

Yeah, typical Den Phal types want warm growing conditions year round. Winter "dormancy" is a bit drier, but not much cooler. But if you have a plant that throws off-season new growths, give it endless summer. I wouldn't go cooler than 60 or so unless you know a particular hybrid has ancestry that makes it want a chill.