New and Need Advice re Dendrobium Kingianum

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Try looking in OSH or Lowe's for pumice.

You might not find it in the Home Depot though.

If there are any Armstrong Nurseries there, that's a good place to go too.

Any good local nursery should carry pumice.

Shipping for Aussie Gold is mad expensive. I don't ship pumice over, I can find it "locally".

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I had problems with Den kingianum at first too, that is until I accidentally found out they grew well in Aussie Gold.

It wasn't until after I bought the plant and grew it in Aussie Gold did I do the research and find out that they were lithophytes.

This is one of the reasons why so many Den. kingianums kheiki so freakin' much. They're trying to bail out of unfavorable conditions.

With so much text saying that this species is a lithophyte, I think we as hobbyists must respect this.

Trust me when I say this, when they're grown right, they will not kheiki. Mine has never once put out a kheiki.

[stefpix]

thanks - what is OSH? well Lowes here does have not too much stuff. also it is the winter.

what peopel use pumice for, apart as orchid medium?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

OSH = Orchard Supply and Hardware

Try looking online for Dynarok. Don't get the smaller grain sizes. Get medium sized chunks.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Pumice is a soil additive. I don't know what others use it for, but I guess maybe African Violets? They're lithophytes too.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This link's for you Stefano.

Gardening Warehouse Direct. Dyna-Rok II - Medium - 9.1 dry qts

[DelawareJim]

They do great in semi-hydroponic too.

As an interesting side note, I was give a handful of canes last year. I put half in hydroton and half in Prime Agra. Grow them side-by-side, same water and fert regimen. The PA plant is a bigger, greener, and healthier looking plant than the hydroton plant. Same goes for my african violets under lights. PA plants are better plants than the hydroton plants and put up blooms sooner.

Cheers.
Jim

[stefpix]

How can you describe the difference between Prime Agra and Hydroton?
well it is all hard to find in NYC. looked at BBotanic Garden - they only have bark mixes. If I go to Lowes or some garden centers same thing.
The very large hydroponic store in Queens carries hydroton but no Prime Agra nor Dyna Rok.
They have some very large// coarse chunks of diatomite.
There is an hydroponic store that lists some silica gravel - could be pumice but the guy seems always out doing deliveries according to his neighbor and it is in a spot where it is really hard to find parking.
It is a bit frustrating - so I was wondering if aquarium gravel could be a substitute.

[DelawareJim]

Ray is the sole source for Prime Agra.

https://www.firstrays.com/cgi/cart/c...1260980744.144

Cheers.
Jim

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Jim is right. Another possibility with Den kingianum is semi-hydroponics as was stated.

Just so you know, from what I understand, there are two types of Den kingianum...

1. short and stocky

2. tall and thin

I've got the taller one. If you're going to do a height comparison take this into consideration.