Dendrochilum cobbianum - When to Transfer?

[Snowden]

I have a Dendro cobbianum in bark that's in spike now that desperately needs to be repotted and I would like to use S/H culture for it.

In following the S/H golden rule, I should wait until there's new growth and roots before doing this. However, this dendro (and others like it, such as magnum) spikes first, then develops new leaves and p-bulbs after blooming. I'm a little confused about when would be the correct time to move this plant over to S/H. It's a fairly large plant and I don't want to lose it.

Should I have done this when the new spikes were just emerging? Do I wait until it is done blooming, but still devloping its p-bulbs? When would be the correct time for this?

[dudleyleroux]

Dendrobiums love being all snug in their pots. Don't stress about repotting it. You can leave a Den in the same pot for 10 years.

[Ray]

Not if the medium is breaking down...

Snowden, I think you have done the right thing to wait, as you're right that the best time to move plants is when they are forming new growths with new roots.

Many plants do so before blooming, so folks have keyed in on that, which is not correct. I would not repot while it is in bloom, though, unless the medium is so bad, you're risking the plant by waiting.

[Snowden]

Only because I have had many, many Emily Litella moments in my life, I'd like to clarify that this is a dendrochilum, not a dendrobium.

I do believe that the medium is decomposing. It hasn't been repotted in years, and, opposed to last year when it had 15 spikes, this year it only pushed up 2, and I feel that the state of the bark is having an adverse effect on the plant.

I'll wait until it is done blooming. Thanks!

[cirillonb]

hopefully someone with some dendrocillum experience and s/h experience will pipe up. I wonder how these do in s/h
Nick

[Ray]

I have several in s/h culture - and yes, dendrochilum, not dendrobium.

In general they don't like being repotted at all, regardless if it's into an inert- or normal organic medium, so I'd wait for new root growth.

[Snowden]

Seems I spoke too quickly. I just took a good look at this plant and there's two new spikes for every growth from last year - there seems to be at least 20 spikes, if not more.

The two that are spiking now are rogues that decided to get an extra early jump on things.

Yes, I'm doing the happy dance, and yes, it's still going into S/H when the time is right!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Snowden

Seems I spoke too quickly. I just took a good look at this plant and there's two new spikes for every growth from last year - there seems to be at least 20 spikes, if not more.

The two that are spiking now are rogues that decided to get an extra early jump on things.

Yes, I'm doing the happy dance, and yes, it's still going into S/H when the time is right!

You have got to post pics when it blooms, 20 spikes sounds too amazing!! I completetly fell in love with this orchid when I saw it at a show last weekend. It was a huge plant covered in spikes! I really really want one now!

[kavanaru]

I have moved both my Dendrochilum magnum and Dendrochilum glumaceum to S/H in summer 2007. They had started to produce new PBs at that time. As Ray already mentioned, this genus does not liek to be repotted, and for this reason (I think) they just avoid blooming last year. Both plants are doing very well in S/H, although I have noticed I need to water more frequent than all other S/H plants I have - the reservoirs dries out within 2 or 3 days, so that at the beginning I thought the pots were broken!

Contrary to what people had said to me, about these plant stopping blooming for 2 or 3 years after been repotted, my two plants are currently in spike (1 year after repotting in S/H)- Dendrochilum glumaceum has one spike, and Dendrochilum magnum 4 spikes.

So, I would recommend you to move the plants when growing new roots, and buy in the fact you will miss the flowers for one year!

[Snowden]

Camille: I love this plant, too (actually, I love ALL of them) I will take a picture of it when it's in full bloom. I only wish I had a better camera.

Ramon: I have noticed that this dendro seems to be a water hog - even in bark - it takes a lot to keep the pbulbs hydrated. A perfect candidate for S/H.

Most dendros resent repotting, so it doesn't surprise me that it would sulk after transplanting. But it's the price I'll have to pay to get it into a more healthy environment. I'll just enjoy it fully while I can.