Hi

[Tanya]

Hi i have just bought a new Den Kikuya, i am new to orchids and would greatly appreciate any advice and tips to keep it healthy and happy.
Thanks Tanya

[digitalgate]

Welcome to the forum. Your place is great sunny, no extreme winter. Perfect for orchid. Someone will be here to guide to the AOS page for cultural info.

[fred]

to Geeks Tanya nice to have you with us

to start off read all you can and ask all the questions that you need to
learning the right culture is the best start please see the link AOS | Dendrobium

[syndywindy]

Hi Tanya, welcome to the forum. Lots of good info from alot of great people.

[Tanya]

Thanks for the welcome and the quick replys
my den Kikuya is flowering. It is summer here and very hot and can get humid is it correct to water twice a week, and mist in the morning, what is the best meathod of watering.
T

[syndywindy]

What is the den potted in? Is it outside? It depends on alot of factors. Alittle more info is needed. It's summer where I am also(altho you wouldn't know it) and my dens are in S/H. But they still take in a lot of water right now.A few weeks ago, I was giving them water almost daily or at least every other day. Now I am watering maybe every 4th day as the weather is cooler. Soon they will be going into their dormant phase and they will get next to no water. This will encourage blooming. Dens also like to be pot bound, the smallest pot will do for them.Also, there is a new post by Anton 'New Club Website Article'. It just happends to be about watering den's. I read it, I think it should help you.

[lmartiny]

WELCOME. We have an Aunt in S. Africa.

[orchidlover55]

Hello Tanya to the forum, you will love it here I have Dens and I always let them dry for one day before I water them again. They get indirect light . They are the easiest orchids to raise that I have. We have alot of humidity here in Alabama so that may have something to do with it. I don't know what the weather islike in Africa.I hope you have good luck with them if you have any more questions we are here to help

Debra

[berniep]

G'Day Tanya

Welcome to the forum, read everything you can and ask a lot of questions, you'll have no trouble.

Cheers
Bernie

[Tanya]

Thanks so much for all the helpfull tips, i am living in nelspruit which is near the mozambique border so temp here mid thirties i have placed my den in indirect sunlight on my balconey which is incased in glass and gets morning sun and afternoon shade
, and it is in a medium sized clay pot. I was also given a beautiful vanda blue spott for my aniversery in may it had flowers then but has not flowered since is this normal and whats the best corse for this plant. sorry lots of questions but have no idea but love orchids.
T

[orchidlover55]

Hello Tanya, I am not very experienced I started in Jan 09 with orchids. I have Dens, but I myself wouldn't leave it out under 55 degrees. You maybe able to but if you can I didn't know it. It is still summer here but it will be fall and I am getting ready to bring all my orchids inside. As of right now they are outside in my greenhouse in indirect light all day long. I water them real good and I let them dry out for one day before I water them again. It is around 80 to 90 degrees here during the day and it goes down to 70 degrees at night. What would the temp be inside your balcony at night and during the day? I am real happy I finally have one that has a spike, I have never seen this one in bloom so it will be a nice surprise for me. to the forum I hope you enjoy it as much as I have there is alot of nice and very experienced orchid growers on here . Nice to have you with us
Debra