Dendrobium Culture notes

[fred]

Dendrobium is a diverse genus of orchids with different cultural needs. Many go through a growth phase and a rest phase during the course of one year, and must be given water and temperature to match these growth and rest periods. Flowers can last one day to many weeks, depending on the type.
Light: Strong light is important, especially when growth is maturing. Give bright light; some sun. In the home; an east, shaded south, or west window. In the greenhouse, 25% to 50% full sun. Less light is needed when plants are resting.

Temperature: Temperature needs vary widely. It is best to follow the plants' natural requirements. Provide night temperatures of 45 to 60 degrees; and days of 65 to 95 degrees.

Water: When plants are growing, water just when becoming dry. Some types need severe drying while resting. Mist in home in the morning if air is dry. A humidity of 40% to 60% is optimum.

Fertilizer: Must be provided on a regular basis since potting media have little. In active plant growth, apply 30-10-10 at recommended rates. Reduce fertilizer when growth is completed. A bloom booster may encourage flowering. More frequent fertilizing is good under high temperature and light conditions.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

For Dendrobiums, it is important to not fertilize while resting.

[kmarch]

It's really tough to give general cultural requirements since Dens vary to such extreemes. It might be worth considering having a few Den culture threads. I'd like to see one specifically for the very commonly found hybrid types specifically the antelope-phal-type hybrids that you can get at any DIY store. Then perhaps another on the soft-cane or nobile-type, perhaps others as well.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

For Dendrobiums, I highly recommend the culture sheets created by Baker & Baker. And by far the best and cheapest way to get them for Dendrobiums, about a thousand different species, is to buy their book on Dendrobiums. I bought mine from an internet used book dealer. You should be able to get the book used for about $60. It is large format (~8.5" x 11") and is a good 2" thick. http://www.orchidculture.com/ The climate table alone is worth the price of the sheet. Check out their free sheets to see what they typically contain.

[butt0n]

I found a great culture sheet from White Oak Orchids for the different types of dens. http://whiteoakorchids.com/Dendcultsht7-06_best_A.pdf

[Sharyn]

Originally Posted by kmarch

It's really tough to give general cultural requirements since Dens vary to such extreemes. It might be worth considering having a few Den culture threads. I'd like to see one specifically for the very commonly found hybrid types specifically the antelope-phal-type hybrids that you can get at any DIY store. Then perhaps another on the soft-cane or nobile-type, perhaps others as well.

I agree with a separate basic culture sheets for dens, especially for the nobile type. I killed my first nobile because I didn't know it needed to rest & have very little water over the winter. Jerry Meola also has some interesting posts on the Yamamoto nobile dens. Like you and others have said before, important to know what type of dendrobium you need to care for.

[Aleksa]

Do the hard cane dendrobium species require winter rest? I have a lot of keikis that almost have no roots, and winter is coming so I'm afraid that they will die during winter!

[tom499]

Are the keikei's still on the mother plant or have you potted them up?

Keikeis are small, so they wont need alot of moisture. If you've got them potted up, just make sure there in some light bark/orchid compost mix.

Keep them fairly tightly potted, and water as the medium gets very dry, every couple of weeks.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Aleksa

Do the hard cane Dendrobium species require winter rest? I have a lot of keikis that almost have no roots, and winter is coming so I'm afraid that they will die during winter!

Aleska, They won't die during the winter, they will continue to be nourished by the "mother" plant. Just yeaterday I saw a hardcane species, Den kingianum, with multiple keikis, many of which were in spike, and not a root on any of them. I should point out it is spring here (Australia) now and these keikis all made it through our winter without any problem. Just leave them all as they are and they'll be fine.

Happy Growing!

[tom499]

Sorry about the mix up, i couldnt tell whether they were still attached or not

[Aleksa]

Unfortunately, they are not attached to the mother. I have removed them from the mother and placed in moss because they almost have no roots. Because of that I'm afraid that they won't survive winter... I thought to bring them in to the house and let them grow without dormant period so they can make more roots and new shots.

[Aleksa]

My hard cane keikis were growing this summer, and in autumn they stopped. Now I noticed that leaves on those growths are turning yellow? I don't know what caused that?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Looking at the White Oak Culture sheet, I don't think
cuthbertsonii and laevifolium should be put into the same temp range. They are only about 5 F different in temps according to Baker, but I think it it that extra 5 degree difference that makes cuthbersonii difficult to grow. I am growing laevifolium in intermediate conditions quite successfully.

Hmmm, I did a double take on canaliculatum too. I have this high and dry right now. Seems Baker's notes would indicate some very dry rest for it. Warm and pretty dry.

[flanso]

Originally Posted by Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

For Dendrobiums, it is important to not fertilize while resting.

Please help me identify when a dendrobium is resting.

[rwilliams1270]

Does one cut back the canes after the flowers fall off?

[rwilliams1270]

Thanks for the great info. Does one cut off or remove the stalks after blooming is completed?

[Sharyn]

rwilliams: After the flowers are done, you may cut off the flower spike itself, but not the cane it grew from. Even if the canes have no leaves, they will provide energy to your den.

[bkim]

Depending on the species, leafless canes can also produce additional spikes in the future. Plus I personally think its the leafless canes that really intrigue me and give them character.

[ryanjoe888]

you are right bkim, these leafless canes usually give some keikis and flower spikes. because sometimes if the last cane produces a new keiki and unfortunately it died, these older canes will be the next to bear this new keikis... it happens to me once because one time our place was flooded and i was not able to have my dends evacuated from the flood (!!!!) after a couple of days i see that the new keikis are on the process of rotting but after a couple of weeks, new keikis are coming from the old canes....

[Aleksa]

It-s summer here and my nobile-type dendrobium is growing new growths. I know that now I should increase watering, but I don't know should I still let it dry between waterings? How do you water your nobile dens in summer?

Summer here can be very hot and warm. Now summer is starting so temps are around 25-30 degree Celsius....

[butt0n]

Originally Posted by Aleksa

It-s summer here and my nobile-type dendrobium is growing new growths. I know that now I should increase watering, but I don't know should I still let it dry between waterings? How do you water your nobile dens in summer?

Summer here can be very hot and warm. Now summer is starting so temps are around 25-30 degree Celsius....

During the summer, I try to not let them completely get bone dry. If you have new canes growing in, roots are soon to come and you don't want them to get too dry either.