Dendrobium type ID

[cuckoo]

I got this as part of cheap bundle of 5 dendrobium seedlings ($42) 3 years back. 3 died and 2 surviving are yet to bloom. This one was labelled Victoria Reginae but it's canes and growth habit looks nothing like Victoria Reginae. It send out one two new canes every year but no blooms so far. The original two canes died of rot but there was a double keikie on each (they grew at the same spot on the parent sequentially) that I potted up in lava rock ( 4 canes total). There are now 8 canes so each plant has doubled in terms of canes and there are three new canes coming up. I have lost several new growths ostensibly to heat or direct sun exposure. After several such deaths ( one not so fine day the new growth would turn yellow) I have realized that this dendrobium doesn't like much heat or direct sun. I now grow it cool with less only a couple of morning sun at most with the new growth away from any direct sun exposure. It doesn't es like more water but the fine roots rot easily, hence, the lava rock. Each cane has 2-4 leaves (more as they grow on a mature plant) My best guess is it is a latouria of some kind. Any guesses are welcome if it is a latouria or some other kind of Den.

[estación seca]

It's in section Densiflora.

I find it hard to keep them alive in such large chunky media. They need a lot of water during the growing season. Yellowing new growths means not enough water. They should not dry out when pushing growth.

Some need winter water, and others flower better without it. They mostly like bright dappled sun.

[cuckoo]

So, you are saying it's not a latouria? I have a BS Den Farmeri and it never gives any trouble. It does like more water but new growth isn't too sensitive to a bit of sun exposure. It has already bloomed twice and is in buds again in a total of less than 10 months in my care. 😊

[estación seca]

It's not a Latouria.

[cuckoo]

Thanks. This is good to know. Are there any specific characteristics that tell them apart. I have been looking at latouria descriptions and they are supposed to have large leathery leaves which mine doesn't have.

[estación seca]

Densifloras tend to have thinner leaves but not always. They flower from nubs below leaves, generally not the apex the way Latourias flower. The leaves of Densifloras are generally farther apart and internodes longer. Most Latouria stems don't develop longitudinal pseudobulb grooves with time the way Densifloras do. The flowers are very different.

[cuckoo]

Thanks.