Dendrobium laevifolium

[dbarron]

Hello, I've been out of orchid growing for about seven years, and finally ordered some dendrobiums a bit over a month ago.

I noticed my dendrobium laevifolium had started a new growth yesterday, I couldn't tell if it were a root or a new PB, but today it's had grown enough to tell it was a new PB and not only that...but two of them (different old bulbs) where there were only one yesterday visible to me.

Is it a good sign that they're growing so fast? My successful background is cats, phals, and oncidiums in the past. I usually killed dends (nobile types) quite quickly and coulldn't force my D kingianum to ever bloom...before I gave up and let it go to orchid heaven after five years. I've never had one change so much in so short a time (especially considering how tiny these plants are).

Mine is 3 three back bulb chain, with newest mature bulbs having split into two leads. At present, each mature PB is only sending out a single new PB (the tiny ones I'm watching now).

Obviously, I'm hoping this means I'm doing things that make it happy...but I worry that the energy to produce the new PBs was stored from the growers efforts not mine. I've done my due diligence and am caring for the new dendrobiums seemingly adequately. They're currently living in an eastern window and getting watered about every third day (small pots). Every third watering, I allow them to soak to clear any buildup..otherwise, it's fertilized weakly with each watering. I'm afraid it'll be too hot and sunny in a southern window...though I've wondered, if they would prefer more light.

So..give me information/opinions, please. Thank you.

Danny

[vjo]

Sounds good to me...Jean

[WhiteRabbit]

I think the new growth is a reflection of both the seller's care, and yours. Since you have had it only a short time, mostly the seller's care - but, it's happy so fast with the care you are providing.

[wintergirl]

I have this plant and I love it. The new bulbs seem to hide underneath on the edges then before you know it there are new bulbs. They do a lot of growing all the time. Not only will they pop up bulbs they grow leaves like crazy and they always have a flower or two. The roots are rubbery yellow and really can multiply. Mine is grown in pure spag,( not compacted). I mist the top of the spag daily. Some people think they need high light but mine are grown in a north window with a shear curtain. I looked on one growers webpage and they had low-medium listed on their site, so don't give them too much light. It sounds like your plant is doing well for you so far. What is it potted in?

[dbarron]

I've never had an orchid that wanted to grow fast (lol), so this will be good for me..I like that.
It's in a net pot with a layer of loose spagnum on top.

It came from Marble Branch Farms, the plants (including this one) seemed in tip top shape. I have a D tannii that has one set of inflorescenses open and two more to go that I got at same time. I must say, they're weird (their flowers...more like bracts).

[wintergirl]

Nice. Another thing you will like, the blooms last for 4 months. Once they get flowering you probably will always have a bloom. Inside the bloom looks like a tiny smiley face.

[dbarron]

I'd always lusted for D cuthbertsonii, and this reminds me of it in floral shape..and suppossed to be much easier to grow (temperature wise at least).
Thanks for your insights and your encouragement. I'll probably have further questions later, as I said, dendrobiums are mostly new territory for me, having only done dendrobium phalanopsis way back when I was a kid.

[wintergirl]

I think the den laevifolium is a little different that most of the bigger dendrobiums. Maybe easier, no winter rest, ect. I'd like to find more orchids similar to them. I like the small pseudo-bulbs rather than large canes especially due to space considerations.

[MattWoelfsen]

BTW, Eastern light is fine for this orchid.

[NYCorchidman]

Grow brignt, warm and well watered year around.
easy dendrobium but very beautiful.
great substitute for cutbersonii I think.
They look similar but I don't like cutbersonii.