[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Dendrobiums should be kept on the dry side when not growing or blooming. Losing some leaves this time of years is normal. Lighting sounds good for this time of year. When the weather warms up, you may have to worry about sun burn. Keep reading these threads and you will be ready by the time the weather warms.

It would help to know what type of Dendrobiums you have. The two common ones sold are the nobile type, and the phalaenopsis type (not to be confused with real Phalaenopsis plants, just a similar shaped flower gave one Den species this name). Phal types are most common, are warmish growing all year, have leathery leaves, and flowers come out the top of the plant in a longish spray. Nobiles need to be cool and very dry in winter, have floppy leaves, and generally have flowerts spread out up and down the cane.

Both types need lots of water while growing, and need to dry well while not growing or blooming. The nobiles may not bloom if not severely dried off during winter. There is a thread on this going on right now.