Questions on new Den

[chrono]

I was gifted with a den from my parents for my birthday this March. I've had dends before but killed them all many years back and haven't had the guts to try again. This time I think I am better prepared for orchid care as my Phal is doing great (survived its first year and is blooming right now, 4 buds open, one more on the way).

Problem #1:
No idea what type it is. No tags. It has green flowers and the old canes have no leaves. It also flowers only at the very top. Anyone up to trying to ID it? I think it is just a generic hybrid. The pot did come with a tag that said the grower is from Hawaii, if that helps (but no grower name).

Problem #2:
How do I care for this type of den?

General question:
I thought I wasn't supposed to get a Keiki until the flowers are all gone, but this den decided to have a baby from the lower end of the cane while still in flower. None of the buds have dropped yet but it looks like two might fade soon. Normal? Unusual? Or just plain healthy?

Watering care:
With my phal, I did the soak method and it works fine because of the coarse potting medium. With the den, the medium is finer and tends to float out with the water using the soak method. At the rate this is going, the medium may completely drain out of the pot in a couple of years! What is the best way to water this den?

[fzzdk]

Originally Posted by chrono

Problem #1:
No idea what type it is. No tags. It has green flowers and the old canes have no leaves. It also flowers only at the very top. Anyone up to trying to ID it? I think it is just a generic hybrid. The pot did come with a tag that said the grower is from Hawaii, if that helps (but no grower name).

It sounds like a phal-type den. A nobile den will have "zigzag" looking canes and their bare canes will be taller than the leafy canes (from my experience) and will have flowers all up and down the bare canes. phal-types send out a flower spike.

Originally Posted by chrono

Problem #2:
How do I care for this type of den?

Phal-types don't need the severe drying out that nobiles often do, but fertilizer needs to be cut out completely during their rest period and water less often then. From my understanding, phal-types also don't need a significant temp drop to flower, so try to keep a regular temperature. They need bright indirect sunlight, such as a western window. i have mine growing in my NW facing window with direct sunlight 2-3 hours a day and my leaves are getting a bit red, so i'm pushing the limit of light.

Originally Posted by chrono

General question:
I thought I wasn't supposed to get a Keiki until the flowers are all gone, but this den decided to have a baby from the lower end of the cane while still in flower. None of the buds have dropped yet but it looks like two might fade soon. Normal? Unusual? Or just plain healthy?

I think your "keiki" is a new pseudo-bulb. I haven't had a den in flower and growing a new bulb, but it might be common, or it might be because your plant has been forced to bloom out of season to sell. It's certainly nothing to worry about.

Originally Posted by chrono

Watering care:
With my phal, I did the soak method and it works fine because of the coarse potting medium. With the den, the medium is finer and tends to float out with the water using the soak method. At the rate this is going, the medium may completely drain out of the pot in a couple of years! What is the best way to water this den?

i pour running water over mine for 5-10 mins until the medium is wet. dens can take coarse medium, they like to dry out between waterings. i'd repot it in the same mix as your phal when you decide to repot.

[fred]

chrono

I think that you will find some of your dendrobium answers with this link.

I hope it helps.

Dendrobium Culture notes