Hello from Rugby UK

[sherbert]

Hi All

I have just joined this forum in an effort to find out what the strange growth on my orchid was, and I have now found out it is a keiki - so thanks for that. I have 4 orchids, 2 Dendrobiums and what I suspect are 2 Phaleonopsis (hope I have spelt these right!). I bought them all when they were reduced in my local supermarket - they are plonked on the bathroom windowsill and seem quite happy. My only concern now is when to water - I was fine in the summer, but the label on the Dens said do not water at all in winter and I am not sure if this applies to the phals as well. Will continue my search of this excellent forum and see if I can find the answer

Sherbert

[Sharyn]

Hello Sherbert. Welcome to the forum. I'm also new to the forum but have learned so much from all these passionate orchid growers. As a newbie myself, my best advice is to follow Cynthia's suggestions on using a skewer to measure your plants for water. Trust me, it works. You'll find a lot of help and friendly folks on this site.

Happy orchid growing.

[arleneg]

Hi and welcome to the forum, Sherbert.

During winter, water both Den and Phal every 7-10 days, sometimes a while longer. During summer, watering will be more frequent due to warmer weather. And, yes, use the skewer method.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Do you have any labels in the Dens? OR, did the flowers come out the top of the Dens, or were they along the sides of the canes. We need to know why the instructions said not to water. A few Dens need this treatment, but not many. Don't let those Phals dry out too much. They aren't supposed to go hard dry.

[sherbert]

thanks everyone - no there are no labels, I don't know where I got it from not to water - must have read it somewhere (or maybe dreamt it!). Anyway am now concerned that they are quite dry, so I have been and watered them, and will use the skewer method in future

[Aniko]

Hi Sherbert ! This is a very important detail:
"1.did the flowers come out the top of the Dens, or2.were they along the sides of the canes"(Cynthia)
The required treatment is different.
Aniko.

[sherbert]

oh my gawd - don't say that - I've watered them now! the flower spikes come out of the top. Is it ok to water them?

Sorry it took so long to reply I'm having trouble finding my way around and could not find where I had posted this

Laura

[Aniko]

Hi Laura (or Sherbert?) Come down, you did the right thing, this type of Den needs to be watered generously when in bloom and growing, letting just close to dry, not completely dry between waterings.After that, likes the dry/wet cycle.
To re bloom needs much more light than Phals, full sun winter time in your location.
Aniko.

[sherbert]

Thanks for that - I don't think they are getting enough sun though as I have them in the bathroom, and although they seem to like the steam there is not as much sun as on the other side of the house - will have to move them to the front

[Aniko]

Good luck & happy growing!
Aniko.

Laura, most newbies are so worried that their orchids need so much humiidity that the bathroom or over the kitchen sink is the first place they put them. But humidity is the least of their needs. What they need above all is light. Dendrobiums need lots of light. They need less than a cattleya but more than a phalaenopsis. Phals are low light orchids and cattleyas are high light orchids, and your dendrobium falls in between.

[sherbert]

thanks for that - not sure where to put them now though cos the only place that gets loads of light is the porch and it's a tad chilly in there this time of year - do you think they will still bloom even if I don't give them much light until the weather gets warmer?

Laura

[mayres]

Sounds like you might have a tough time getting your dends to bloom for this year (?) - a majority of them (at least around my area) bloom during winter/spring - have either bloomed or in process now. I have found that I can get mine to bloom by placing them outside on the east side of my house from May to October and then bring them back in and put them under lights during the off season (in windows would obviuosly work too). What I'm trying to say is - give them a lot of light from spring through early fall and then you can expect some blooms for sure NEXT winter/spring if all other environmental conditions are also adequately maintained.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I tend to think of Dens as needing the same light as Catts, and during winter for sure. But pumping them full of light during summer may be enough. Sherbert, how about updating your profile with your location so we will always know what your environment is like.

[sherbert]

ok - thanks everybody - I will try and update my profile - not sure how to do it but will go and look now

Thanks again