Dendrobium tetragonum - how to grow?

[eSRods]

Hi all, a newbie here.
I acquired a few Dendrobium tetragonums, Australian orchid, which were legally collected from the wild (got the National Park tags). Naturally they are epiphytes, so they come on a piece of tree bark (paperbark tree).
I read somewhere that they do not like to be disturbed. My question is, can I plant them in pots using bark chips, and if so, should I remove the paperbark that is attached to the roots or plant the lot and do not touch the roots?
Cheers
Ed

[Anton]

I would tend to leave them on their natural habitat, ie the bark and if it is not already, tie the bark onto a small branch cutting.

You could even wrap some sphagnum moss around it to keep it moist too as they come from near streams and moist gullies in rainforests, and therefore need to be kept moist.

Would love to see and smell one, evidently they have a nice perfume.

[eSRods]

Hi Anton,
Not a bad idea. I will get some paperbark branches and tie the tetras over a thin layer of sphagnum moss.
I new I would get great help from here.
But for my info, can they be planted in the pots?
Cheers
Ed

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Don't disturb these until you see new roots coming from the new growths. Repotting out of season could kill all the current roots and leave the plants rootless for many months, and repotting at the proper season insures that there are plenty of rooting hormones in the plant and root replacement will be quick. Air roots don't convert well to pot roots.

[eSRods]

Thank you, Cynthia.
Excellent information.
As suggested by Anton, I will mount these on to paperbark branches without disturbing the roots. I may repot a few in the pots later date when they are well established.
Cheers
Ed