Dendrobium aggregatum aka Dendrobium lindleyi

[Bud]

This is the bright festive flowered Dendrobium aggregatum one of the Callista species endemic to Burma, northern India and southern China….. also known as Dendrobium lindleyi….one of the dwarf Dendrobiums since it does not grow into tall canes but have short spindle-shaped pseudo bulbs bearing thick, leathery leaves; I inherited this mounted on wood and moss a couple of years ago. I consider them as 'evergreen' in the sense that they do not drop their leaves as some of the tall cane Dendrobium orchids.

Dendrobium aggregatum takes bright Cattleya lighting (intermediate to warm conditions) but they require somewhat cooler temperatures at night during the winter months.

A good water regimen is a crucial element for this orchid. (a bit difficult to master) In spring/ summer, water liberally when growth is developing, really be generous with your watering and fertilizing. When Fall approaches, I start to gradually cut back on water and stop fertilizer because this orchid plant require dry rest in winter ( I stop water altogether December 15)….sometimes I spray the roots if the bulbs become wrinkly…..during this dormant period, I was able to learn the distinction between what is considered wrinkly and when this orchid plant needs moisture to keep it from dying. Dry rest period is difficult to achieve especially if you are used to watering. Just be firm….but when it begin to spike, I resume full watering and fertilizer regimen. This orchid plant will only produce new growth and will not bloom if watered during the rest period. Never move the plant when in bud=I have blasted last years spikes because of moisture issues.

Spider mites and scales are the most common infestations. These bugs love to hide among the nooks and crannies of the pseudo bulbs. Spider mites will suck the life and energy out of this orchid plant. If your plant takes a downward turn, begins to yellow, check carefully for any bugs and start anti-bug spray.

[WhiteRabbit]

Fabulous!

[dbarron]

Oh wow!

[Bud]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Fabulous!

Thank You, Sonya !

---------- Post added at 08:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:02 PM ----------

Originally Posted by dbarron

Oh wow!

Thank You !

[Leafmite]

Yours is just gorgeous! Congratulations!

I have had one for about four years and couldn't get it to bloom when I followed the usual instructions. Someone at my OS told me to water it normally during the winter and, this year, it bloomed. No idea why it worked (?).

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Beautiful Bud, jealous here, this sucker will be flying off the balcony! I have it for 3+ years, it grows ton, but it has never bloomed. I did everything, I do your water regime, provide full winter rest, it is hanging out of the balcony, gets full afternoon sun every single day, good feeding, not watered from December till spring, no fertilizer, exposed to all our freezing fronts, it grows like a weeds, but never gives a spike!

---------- Post added at 12:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:14 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Yours is just gorgeous! Congratulations!

I have had one for about four years and couldn't get it to bloom when I followed the usual instructions. Someone at my OS told me to water it normally during the winter and, this year, it bloomed. No idea why it worked (?).

Leafmite I guess I'll go your way this year, I can't figure out how to make this orchid bloom!

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Yours is just gorgeous! Congratulations!

I have had one for about four years and couldn't get it to bloom when I followed the usual instructions. Someone at my OS told me to water it normally during the winter and, this year, it bloomed. No idea why it worked (?).

Thank You, Leafmite!

Your humidity level indoors in winter is also an important factor, I have an electric humidifier at 80% in winter so my plants in rest period will not dry up and shrivel that much even if I don't water it.
Watering it in winter normally in your environment must have given it the proper humidity in its rest period.

---------- Post added at 02:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:34 PM ----------

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Beautiful Bud, jealous here, this sucker will be flying off the balcony! I have it for 3+ years, it grows ton, but it has never bloomed. I did everything, I do your water regime, provide full winter rest, it is hanging out of the balcony, gets full afternoon sun every single day, good feeding, not watered from December till spring, no fertilizer, exposed to all our freezing fronts, it grows like a weeds, but never gives a spike!

---------- Post added at 12:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:14 AM ----------


Leafmite I guess I'll go your way this year, I can't figure out how to make this orchid bloom!

Thank You, Tommy!

Give it cool nights in winter but you should bring it indoors if it is below 45F....as I said earlier it is really hard to get the proper watering regimen in its rest period....you have high humidity in your atmosphere as opposed to my dry atmosphere in winter....

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Thanks Bud, it does not get under 45F here much, it can be few mornings at most through out the whole winter, and only few hours in the morning, so I do not bring it in (I did not bring in ANY of my orchids this past winter, and all did survive outside). Watering - it gets only whatever little rain we get during winter months, pretty much, it gets conditions as it would in nature, what is pissing me the most, EVERYONE here in Florida, growing them the same, full sun, just left outside, is blooming this one, but I guess it is the same case like Brassavola, blooming for every single beginner here in FL, I never made it bloom in 4 years, before it left my balcony ;-) Yeah, I can make cuthbertsonii and Corybas bloom, but not Brassavola or this Dendro :-) :-) :-)

[fotofashion]

I have two of these and was much discouraged by the comments on its difficulty. However, this winter the smaller plant bloomed but the larger one did not. So, I am encouraged to give them a real try for next winter. I have had the smaller one several years and the larger I got at an OS auction last year. Maybe, just maybe the larger one will get the idea this year.
Beverly A.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Thanks Bud, it does not get under 45F here much, it can be few mornings at most through out the whole winter, and only few hours in the morning, so I do not bring it in (I did not bring in ANY of my orchids this past winter, and all did survive outside). Watering - it gets only whatever little rain we get during winter months, pretty much, it gets conditions as it would in nature, what is pissing me the most, EVERYONE here in Florida, growing them the same, full sun, just left outside, is blooming this one, but I guess it is the same case like Brassavola, blooming for every single beginner here in FL, I never made it bloom in 4 years, before it left my balcony ;-) Yeah, I can make cuthbertsonii and Corybas bloom, but not Brassavola or this Dendro :-) :-) :-)

Don't be impatient, Tommy....let it get accustomed to your environment. Once it starts to bloom it will keep on flowering for you....I am sure the Brassavola and your aggregatum will flower=but in time.

---------- Post added at 04:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ----------

Originally Posted by fotofashion

I have two of these and was much discouraged by the comments on its difficulty. However, this winter the smaller plant bloomed but the larger one did not. So, I am encouraged to give them a real try for next winter. I have had the smaller one several years and the larger I got at an OS auction last year. Maybe, just maybe the larger one will get the idea this year.
Beverly A.

Thank You for the visit.

Let it get accustomed to your environment and your watering and feeding regimen....the smaller older resident plant have flowered for it got used to your place....the newer larger plant is still disoriented and feeling displaced=just let it get its bearings and it will flower