Whats My Dendrobium?

[MSPProductions]

Hello everyone! I'm new to the site and have a question about my dendrobium. It was purchased at a Supermarket here in Los Angeles a
year ago. It was in bloom then and then bloomed again in December, it also started two new psuedobulbs. I've read about "warm growing" dendrobiums that don't rest. I guess my first question is...is this a warm grower?

I can't post pictures yet since this is my first message. I would describe
the dendrobium as a cane type where 1-2inch flowers bloom at the nodes in the cane.

I've made a picture of the orchid's flower my avatar.

Thanks and I love the site!

PS I do have a couple of other orchids that need ID-ing but I'll get to them when I'm able to post pictures

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum, MSPProductions.

I am not experienced enough to help you. I am sure someone will be along to help you out.

[fred]

hi and welcome to the forum

I hope that you enjoy your stay here with us.

I have enclosed a link for now as we are unable to ID your dens untill we are able to see a pic or pics of the flowers

http://www.aos.org/aos/uploadedfiles...redendrobe.pdf

I hope this helps you

happy chatting

[kmarch]

If the picture that is your avatar is they kind of Dendrobium you have, then you have a nobile-type Dendrobium. It is not a warm growing type (meaning warm and watered year round), but is one of the kinds of Den. that will want "seasons".

They like lots of water when in active growth and a drier, cool winter rest during which they bud and bloom. I have not watered mine at all for about a month now (I live in Australia where we are going into winter) and have just recently noticed flower buds starting. They also like intermediate to cool temps depending on the season and in CA you could probably grow it outdoors all year. They are well suited to home culture too. They like bright indirect light.

[MSPProductions]

Wow! thanks so quickly for the replies! I'm definately new to orchid growing.
For a while I was definately an orchid killer. I recently moved much closer to the ocean, within 4 miles and now have an amazing two story high set of windows facing east. Now my collection has grown from 2 or 3 sickly plants to over 30 in only 6 months. I do have to admit I make plenty of mistakes I just saw my Masdevalia die and it happened so quickly!

Anyway, I'm going to keep at it here and hopfully soon I'll be posting all sorts of pictures!

Michael

[kmarch]

Michael,

Go to the Americanorchid Society website and download the various culture sheets for orchids you're interested in. These culture sheets will tell you what the various types of orchids want and need. Most of our orchid casualties come from not knowing (or knowing but not giving) the kind of culture a particular kind of orchid requires. The AOS website is www.aos.org

After reading these culture sheets and maybe picking up a good general book on orchid care and culture (I recommend Ortho's All About Orchids), if you have more questons, let us know.

Happy Growing.

[MSPProductions]

Thanks for the advice. I have looked over the AOS material and I've picked up a couple books as well. I guess, I just keep wanting to know more and more!

[MSPProductions]

OK I've figured out how to post pictures!
Here is a couple of pictures.
I've love to get more info!

Plus it looks like there is just the begining of new growth.
These pics are from six months ago.

[Winterwhite]

Hello MSP...
I can't help you with the identity but you have a very lovely dendrobium. I'm envious since most of mine look like naked stalks. I am starting there heavier fertilizer program so hope that I will get some buds for next fall/winter. Whatever you are doing it is working well. Winterwhite

[MSPProductions]

Here is an up to date picture. It seems to have finished growing, the canes with leaves and has just started new growth at it's base.

[fred]

I have had a look around to see if I can put a name to your Den I found a pic that looks similar to the flowers of a Dendrobium Lampongense found within this link

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...chid-list.html

I hope this helps

[kmarch]

It will be near impossible to identify the specific hybrid you have because there are hundreds and hundreds of hybrids, all of which exhibit a good bit of variety. We may find a pic of something on the web and have the exact same cross in our collection and have them bloom out completely different. The old addage "if you've seen one you've seen them all" doesn't hold with respect to a complex orchid hybrid.

[MSPProductions]

I guess that my main concirn is with the plannts growth cycle not as much with it's hybrid name. Most of the time I read about the cycle being 1 year. Where it does seem that this one is around 6 months. I just want to make sure that I am giving the plant the care that it needs.

[kmarch]

Yes, some orchid hybrids have a 6 month cycle. I have a Cattleya hybrid that blooms in June-July and again in Dec-Jan just like clock-work. Typically the nobile hybrids run on a year-long growth cycle but that doesn't mean they can't bloom more than once a year. My nobile-type blooms once a year but Jerry has mentioned a few times that they can bloom every 6 months.

[MSPProductions]

Thanks to eveyone for all of the help. I found a couple of pics that are really close
"White Rabbit"
http://kojimatsk.hp.infoseek.co.jp/M...me20010314.jpg
"Second Love"
http://p-chan.cocolog-nifty.com/blog...-2-h_thumb.JPG

[fred]

the frist link is close but the second is far from the same

have you had a look useing this link ?
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...chid-list.html

[matucana]

Hi mspp,

Originally Posted by MSPProductions

I would describe
the dendrobium as a cane type where 1-2inch flowers bloom at the nodes in the cane.

warm growing dendros put forth a spike from the tip of the bulbs. IMHO you have a cool/hot growing Dendro, one of the "Nobile hybrids". These require a cool and dry winter rest, down to 5° C (41° F). You have to wait until you see that the buds ARE buds. If you water too early, the plant can change all buds to keikis...

When the new growth starts, it requires warm culture and plenty of water and fertilizer.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Sudden death for your Masdie was probably because of the wrong culture, as they are cool growers and growing them indoors stresses them and makes them vulnerable to bacterial and fungal attack. I'll bet you could grow Pleurothalids like the Masdivalia very well outdoors in the shade where you live now.