Pinkdaybreak

[Pinkdaybreak]

Hello everyone,
I cannot believe how much I have learned about orchids in the past 24 hours! I still have a ton of questions. I know now that I have two Phalaenopsis and two Dendrobiums.
My first questions are about the Dendrobiums. Mine have about three or four canes on each plant. Do I cut the canes back after they have finished blooming? I have just left them as they are and one has developed a Keikis (off shoot). The Keikis has tiny roots on it and I have no idea how to take it off or what to plant it in. How long does it have to grow before it will produce any flowers? Each plant has a stalk that has leaves on the top of the cane, but the other canes are bald. What do I do with each cane? As you can see I am just full of questions.
I have a screened in porch that gets the afternoon sun. I was thinking about putting the orchids out there in the summer, but I am not sure which orchids would work best there. I am open to any ideas. I might just have to buy some new ones if I do not have the correct kind.
I am eagar to hear from my new orchid buddies. Thanks, Pinkdaybreak

[tom499]

i have a similiar bamboo plant. The keiki should be left until i pretty much looks like a small plant once the roots are 3 inches long, and there are some nice leaves, but off the stem about an inch along from the keiki and plant it in similiar medium to the mother. (this should be checked by another orchid grower )

if the cane is just plain, no keiki, and the flowers have gone, i would leave it till it starts to go brown, and very stick like, then cut it off about an inch frm the bottom

[fred]

Hi you dont have to cut the canes off after flowering as the canes will flower again.
If the canes have died ( gone a yellow brown) they can be cut.
here is some information for you.

Dendrobium is the name of a large genus in the orchid family Orchidaceae. There are over 1200 recognized species of Dendrobium orchids and the floral trade has created an abundance of hybrids. You can for instance purchase a wide range of different Dendrobium nobile varieties. Dendrobium orchids grow in a wide range of different habitats, and the ideal Dendrobium orchid care can therefore vary somewhat. The suggestions below are only general guidelines. You can find wild Dendrobium orchids in the Australian desert as well as in Asian tropical forest and the Himalayan Mountain range.

Dendrobium orchids are sometimes referred to as "Phalaenopsis type orchids" since their flowers are similar to Phalaenopsis flowers. There is however notable differences between the two orchid types. Dendrobium orchids will for instance shed their leaves each fall, while the Phalaenopsis orchids are evergreen.

Dendrobium orchid care - Medium
Dendrobium orchids are epiphytic or lithophytic in the wild, and choosing a well-draining potting medium is an essential part of good Dendrobium orchid care. The recommended potting medium depends on the size of the pot. If you keep your Dendrobium orchid in a pot smaller than 6 inches, you can mix 10 parts of fine grade fir bark with 1 par orchid mix. If the pot is larger, you can use medium grade fir bark.
Dendrobium orchid care - Temperature
Your Dendrobium orchid will to best in an environment where the night temperature is lower than the day temperature. The preferred day temperature is 75 - 85˚ F (24 - 29˚ C), while the recommended night temperature is 60 – 65 °F (15.5 - 18˚ C). Protecting your orchid from temperature extremes is naturally an important part of the Dendrobium orchid care. Occasional incidents can usually be handled by healthy and well established specimens, but prolonged exposure to unsuitable temperatures will be highly injurious for a Dendrobium orchid
Dendrobium orchid care - Light
If you want to provide your plant with ideal Dendrobium orchid care you should place it in a spot where it will be shaded from intense midday sun-shine. These orchids love full morning and late afternoon sun, but prefer to stay in the shade between 11 am and 3 pm. If the orchid is exposed to intense midday sun, the leaves can turn yellow. If the orchid is placed in a spot where it is too dark, the leaves will turn from light green to dark green.
Dendrobium orchid care - Watering
Dendrobium orchids are epiphytic or lithophytic in the wild, and are therefore ill equipped for a life in a soggy plant medium. Let the potting medium dry out thoroughly before you give the orchid any more water.
Dendrobium orchid care - Nutrients
Good Dendrobium orchid care includes providing your plant with high nitrogen fertilizer (25-9-9) year round. For a normal strong fertilizer, one teaspoon of fertilizer per month will be adequate. Many orchids prefer to receive the nutrients in several smaller servings instead of being given all the nutrients in one single watering.
Dendrobium orchid care - Repotting
Repot your Dendrobium orchid every second year. The best period for repotting is in spring, after the blooming. You can also repot when you notice new growth. Repot earlier if the potting medium goes bad, e.g. becomes sour, infested with mould or unable to drain properly.

[Pinkdaybreak]

Originally Posted by tom499

i have a similiar bamboo plant. The keiki should be left until i pretty much looks like a small plant once the roots are 3 inches long, and there are some nice leaves, but off the stem about an inch along from the keiki and plant it in similiar medium to the mother. (this should be checked by another orchid grower )

if the cane is just plain, no keiki, and the flowers have gone, i would leave it till it starts to go brown, and very stick like, then cut it off about an inch frm the bottom

Tom,Thank you so much for telling me what to do with the canes and the keiki. I have been searching for that information and now
I finally know. I think I will wait until the keiki gets a little bigger. I now have to start learning about the planting medium. Thanks again for all of your help.

[Pinkdaybreak]

Fred,
Wow! you are one smart cookie. How many years have you been raising orchids? I do not think I have met anyone with as much knowledge as you have.
Thank you for all of the information you gave me. I will use all of it.

[fred]

I would not say that I am a smart cookie.( but thats nice of you to say so )
I have been growing orchids now for over 20 years even I still learn as well.
I am glad the information has helpt you.
happy growing

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Fred, I don't know where you got the fertilizing info, but most sources say no or very low nitrogen in winter. Especially for the nobiles.

[fzzdk]

i thought phal-type dens were evergreen and different from the deciduous nobile dens?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Phal type Dens aren't quite evergreen. They just hold their leaves a little longer (sometimes). Warm Dens do have a winter rest, but not with coolness. I had to find out the hard way that warm Dens like it drier in winter. I was using a mix that dried out much more slowly than other mixes. I found that the warm Dens never liked this mix and always lost their roots. Later, I realized that there was nothing wrong with the mix, but I had to make sure the mix got very dry and stayed that way a few extra days while not growing (or blooming), then the Dens did just fine in it. Yet, during the growing season, the Dens get watered every 1 to 2 days, and do very well.

[fzzdk]

thanks for clearing that up cynthia! i think i know why all my roots rotted on one of my plants. i didn't know to give both types a dry winter.

[Pinkdaybreak]

Cynthia,
I think I have a warm den. It has lost almost all of it's leaves. I just have the canes left. Do I understand that I need to let the moss dry out completely in the winter months? Thanks, Dawn

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Yes, but moss is very bad for Dens unless it is in a very small pot, as moss usually holds so much water that it take too long to dry out after watering. I think if it takes much longer than 4 or 5 days, it may be a problem. Maybe a partial wetting during winter so that there is less water to have to dry out. Course winter is just about over, so I expect that most Dens will be starting new growths, and watering can be steppped up with no harm. But consider repotting into something like bark soon, before the new roots get too long.