Den Lorrie Mortimer

[sskmaestro]

Hi Friends,

Got this orchid a month ago. What are the cultural requirements? It has one very large cane with a spike and a young cane in active growth. Attached the picture of the plant.

I potted this in clay pot as this is top heavy. Substrate is spaghnum moss and leca pebbles (for stability of the cane position)

Should we allow this orchid to dry out between waterings?
Does this need a winter rest?
Can this take direct sun light?

Please share me the knowledge.

Thanks in advance!

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by sskmaestro

Hi Friends,

Should we allow this orchid to dry out between waterings?
Does this need a winter rest?
Can this take direct sun light?

1. Not necessarily
2. Definitely not
3. For sure

This is 25% Den bigibbum (Den Phal type) and 75% Antelope type Den (aka section Spatulata). The most of the Dens from section Spatulata are water hogs. They need good drainage, don’t want to be soggy, but it isn’t necessary for them to go bone dry between waterings. Particularly during warm weather. If they are grown too dry, or have bad root systems, they tend to drop leaves rapidly. These are evergreen Dendrobiums. If it’s receiving cooler temps you can grow it a little dryer than normal. Just adjust your watering schedule if things are taking longer to dry out.

These are warm to hot growers. Speaking from some unfortunate experiences, most of these types really don’t do well in temps below 60°f. The warmer and hotter, the better. They will grow year round but the cooler it is, the slower they grow (also, there is less daylight hours), the new growths can rot, this can also cause leaves drop, and overall the whole plant can be weakened. No winter rest, no cool temps, and you can keep fertilizing.

And yes these like A LOT of bright light. How much will depend on your conditions and location.



This is a pretty solid care sheet for your Den.
How We Grow Dendrobiums, Part 3 – RF Orchids

Enjoy it and good luck! These are beautiful orchids and the flowers are super long lasting

[sskmaestro]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

1. Not necessarily
2. Definitely not
3. For sure

This is 25% Den bigibbum (Den Phal type) and 75% Antelope type Den (aka section Spatulata). The most of the Dens from section Spatulata are water hogs. They need good drainage, don’t want to be soggy, but it isn’t necessary for them to go bone dry between waterings. Particularly during warm weather. If they are grown too dry, or have bad root systems, they tend to drop leaves rapidly. These are evergreen Dendrobiums. If it’s receiving cooler temps you can grow it a little dryer than normal. Just adjust your watering schedule if things are taking longer to dry out.

These are warm to hot growers. Speaking from some unfortunate experiences, most of these types really don’t do well in temps below 60°f. The warmer and hotter, the better. They will grow year round but the cooler it is, the slower they grow (also, there is less daylight hours), the new growths can rot, this can also cause leaves drop, and overall the whole plant can be weakened. No winter rest, no cool temps, and you can keep fertilizing.

And yes these like A LOT of bright light. How much will depend on your conditions and location.



This is a pretty solid care sheet for your Den.
How We Grow Dendrobiums, Part 3 – RF Orchids

Enjoy it and good luck! These are beautiful orchids and the flowers are super long lasting

Thanks for the info. I will put him in full sun from spring until winter. I think Dallas weather should be perfect for these ever green varieties!

[DirtyCoconuts]

Big thanks Sara.

I recently came into one of these and I was going to put it in my lath house but I think I will try it next to my big catts and see how it likes it.

[Dollythehun]

From experience, SaraJean is correct. Allowing them to dry out causes black spotted leaves and death. I lost quite a few dens last year to watering neglect, this being one of them.

[sskmaestro]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

From experience, SaraJean is correct. Allowing them to dry out causes black spotted leaves and death. I lost quite a few dens last year to watering neglect, this being one of them.

Thanks for the info! Hope you are past these learnings like me!

[sskmaestro]

I initially thought this is a root! Took it as a weird root growth right at the top of the cane where flower spike emerges. As this plant already has one flower spike, though this growth as a root.

But this is a second flower spike! Read yesterday in the link shared by SaraJean, these plants can produce flower spikes from already bloomer old canes and also multiple flower spikes!

Exciting days then!

[Dollythehun]

Great job,!!!