Dendrobium Micro Chip Questions on Repotting - Orchid Board

Plantcrazed101 · #1 12-29-2014, 10:42 PM

So this is my first Dendrobium, Dendrobium 'Micro Chip' that arrived in the mail a week or so ago. I'm not sure how to tell if it's in good condition...what do y'all think?

Some of the pseudobulbs look wrinkled, and I'm not sure if that's expected on a Dendrobium or if it's a sign that it didn't get enough water.

I put it in a solo cup that I drilled holes in the bottom and sides for ventilation, with fine grade bark and small lava rock...is that okay? How much moisture do you think it likes with that type of mix?

The roots in the solo cup are snug but there's a tiny bit of room for them to grow. Hope that's okay.

Also, do the Pseudobulbs need to be above the soil as with other orchids or deeper in the mix?

Then lastly, the temperature got down to about 55 on my windowsill, is that okay for it, or is that too cold? Since this isn't a Dendrobium that typically needs cold temperatures, I'm not sure if it needs to be grown warm to be healthy or it can handle a little coolness.

MrHappyRotter · #2 12-29-2014, 11:04 PM

It looks good to me. Nice and healthy.

I hope you figure the repotting thing out. I repotted mine over the summer after the flowers finally dropped, and it has taken quite a while for the plant to adapt. Didn't help that it also developed a little mite infestation after I repotted it.

The biggest thing that surprises me about the care of this dendrobium is how much water it seems to enjoy. I wouldn't grow it soaking in water, but it seems to enjoy a little extra to soak up overnight, and then spritz from the mister every few days.

When you repot, the bulbs most definitely should not be buried or low in the pot.

As far as temperatures go, 55 F isn't usually so bad. Even your warm growers can handle that for a short period every once in awhile. If it's permanent home however drops down that low every night, then you might consider finding a warmer spot or simply raising the temperature in the plant's immediate space would be beneficial.

Leafmite · #3 12-30-2014, 12:37 AM

I have had mine about two months, now. I re-potted mine in LECA and a basket pot when it arrived. That way I can water it like crazy without rotting the roots. It responded by putting out two new growths and spikes after a month. I see new roots growing down into the medium.
I don't mist mine and I have it under the lights where it is about 75-80'F during the day, 60'F+ during the night. Humidity is a little low as the lights dry everything so fast. :|
Good luck!

---------- Post added at 11:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 PM ----------

It looks pretty good, by the way. The roots have nice growing tips.

Plodde · #4 12-30-2014, 01:09 AM

I planted my Dendrobium micro-chip in medium sized orchid bark, and since then it has put out many growths but no spikes. i try to keep the humidity above 60% and the temp at night during winter gets down to the low 60's, high 50's. this dendrobium does like a lot of water and no winter rest.
like i said before my d. micro-chip keeps growing but no spikes. so i must be doing something wrong. but just some more info for you to have on this hybrid

Leafmite · #5 12-30-2014, 02:01 AM

Hopefully someone else can help you. I have only had mine two months. I am guessing that the spikes may have been due to the care that it received from J&L and that just keeping it happy kept it on course.
My temperatures drop when the lights go off but not below 60'F. I basically treat this like my Phal-type Den. It is currently under the T5's on the shelf with Cattleya, neos, and Aerides, to give you some idea of the light.

The Mutant · #6 12-30-2014, 08:00 AM

I only have one Dend, but it's one of the parents to your hybrid. I agree with what others have said, it looks healthy and I also think that your choice of substrate sounds good to my Dend newbie ears.

It's also very good that you started this thread, because I haven't repotted mine yet and I've had it for a year and a half now. It's in dire need of repotting...

Mine came potted in straight bark (fine graded) and I water it a lot. During summer, if I felt it dried up too fast, I let it soak in water for a couple of hours almost every second day. Now, when it's much colder, I'm more careful with the watering.

I also have mine standing on a windowsill, but it doesn't get quite as cold as it does at your home. I think it stays around 60ºF and it seems to work for mine. Maybe move it away from the window during night in the winter so it doesn't get too cold, or is it 55ºF during day too?

As Leafmite does, I give mine lots of light. I have it standing together with my multipaphs, which should be getting Cattleya light levels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plodde

I planted my Dendrobium micro-chip in medium sized orchid bark, and since then it has put out many growths but no spikes. i try to keep the humidity above 60% and the temp at night during winter gets down to the low 60's, high 50's. this dendrobium does like a lot of water and no winter rest.
like i said before my d. micro-chip keeps growing but no spikes. so i must be doing something wrong. but just some more info for you to have on this hybrid

Maybe it needs more light?

plantbuddy · #7 12-30-2014, 01:13 PM

Hmmmmm......

Your Micro Chip looks different than mine.

I find it to be a very easy and resilient plant to care for. Mine is in an east-facing window and it gets darn cold at night.

Just took a pic of it to compare. All budded up.

WhiteRabbit · #8 12-30-2014, 09:15 PM

These don't want to dry out completely, so make sure to keep media lightly moist. Mine gets a bit lower than 55 at times (at night), without complaint, along with less than warm daytime temps in winter (60-65) - it's always been a great bloomer for me.

RandomGemini · #9 12-31-2014, 01:33 AM

I haven't noticed it being fussy about humidity either, as long as it gets enough water. I grow mine in a room with 40% humidity. The canes will shrivel if it doesn't get enough water, but the leaves also take on a papery kind of look if the plant isn't watered enough too. With enough water, the leaves will have just a hint of glossiness to them.

Purple_phal_gal13 · #10 01-03-2015, 01:58 PM

I also aquired one of these guys from a fellow Orchid board member. It seems to be doing really well. I repotted it when I got it in a 70% sphagnum moss fine fir bark blend with perilite and charcoal. Since it was new, that's my go to blend when transitioning new orchids to my collection. It seems to have new buds. I keep it at around 63 to 61 degrees F in my house where they are over wintering. He gets watered when the media is almost dry but still contains moisture.

Seems to be liking it and putting up buds, I think.