new to dens!! help
 

Hello,

About 2 1/2 weeks ago I bought two on the sale rack at lowes.

One was 5$ and it has A big cane and 3 smaller ones. The big one had a spike but browned and i cut it down.
I first had them planted it sprgm moss but this week felt it was too wet so I put them in mix of fir bark, hardwood charcoal, and coarse perlite. (also had a tag that said dendrobium 44-08/#67 world cup no2)

The other was 3.50$ and has one big spike and one smaller one. The big one had a spike but also browned and I cut it off.

So could someone help me with them thank you very much




...... the 2nd pic the lil cane leaf has turned yellow. last three pics are phals just wanted to see there progress.

Can you show some pics of them. That will help us know what care they need.

Dendrobiums are a very large genus and their care can vary widly so one of the first things is to try and identify which group of dendrobiums it first in to (which is where a pic would help).

There is a general care sheet for dendrobiums here.

Dendrobium - Orchid Board

But one of the key things is to work out if they need a winter rest or not.

I would but my camara is kind of broken right now!

I got some info from reading other posts. it is a phal type because the shoot comes form the top. Thats about it!

ok these are them 2 of them are the dendrobiums. the other two are phals i got as well.... so please help!!!

pictures are from when I purchased them!!

Well I'm not an expert but to me the two dens look a bit like hybrids of Dendrobium Phalenopsis. (This is not to be confused with the Genus of Phalenopsis.)

If I'm right then they need general care similar to the Genus of Phal but with brighter light and they DON'T need a winter rest. Take a look at the link I gave before for general care tips on Dendrobium.

For the Phals take a look at this care sheet.

Phalaenopsis - Orchid Board

Generally speeking they both want temps arround standard house temps. Both of them can be watered when the medium dries out. The Phals likes enough light but not direct light. I have mine in an east facing window and they seem to do well. The Dens like brighter light, I have mine in a west facing window.

:goodluck:

The Phal in picture #7 in the first post looks like it is potted just a little too deep in that Sphag moss. I would try and ease the crown up above the moss a bit more so you don't end up with crown rot. The rest look fine.

Help
 

Without a compass how do i know the facing windows. All my windows are on one side of the apartment. Right now its about 2pm and the sun is fully shinning on the opposite side of my apartment. I am in full shade. I think later on in the evening we get the sun shining on our side.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. You should be able to orient yourself that way.

Well then, I guess I have west facing windows in my apartment not one east facing one. So what do I do with the Dens now will they get enough sunlight

The Dens are best of in the west so put them in the windowledge.

The Phals probably want to be kept back from the window but still with some light reaching them. They want indirect light so if all you have is west windows don't put them directly in that. Having said that over the winter they may be alright in the window.