Repotting compot of Dendrobium spectabile 'Halcyon' × 'CAS'

[1joyceh]

In the fall, I recieved this compot of Dendrobium spectabile 'Halcyon' × 'CAS' from my besty, Jenny. Today I thought was a great day to divide it out before everyone grew together....I have gone ahead and used seaweed ( 1/2 strength) in my presoak. Jenny said when she did it, they were a little tempermental after....so I wanted to try something different. We will see how that works out....

[rcb]

They look good. A really great Den, which eludes me.

[1joyceh]

I have a large spectabile...flowered beautifully for me...then was invaded by pests...almost lost it...it is making a comeback now, and hope in the next year or 2, she will flower once again...
here is a pic when she was last in bloom

[Carkin]

Originally Posted by 1joyceh

I have a large spectabile...flowered beautifully for me...then was invaded by pests...almost lost it...it is making a comeback now, and hope in the next year or 2, she will flower once again...
here is a pic when she was last in bloom

Joyce, I drool over that picture everytime I see it! I love your Phal that you have beside it too.
Looks like you did a great job of separating your babies...I hope they grow fast for you!

[bearded orchid]

Nice job. I waited too long to divide my compot of antennatum so now I have one big mass instead

[Fishmom]

What beautiful roots on those babies! You should get some good results from them. I too have a mature plant that is having its problems, like Joyce. I'm hoping to save it, but yesterday I noticed that the largest new lead has succumbed to rot. Surgery performed, but this is a recurring problem which seems to reside deep within the plant. Rats!

[1joyceh]

Fishmom,
With the big spectabile I have learned that a certain amount of neglect is essential.....seems it hates to be fussed with...I let it go dry, then water....leave it under t5 lighting, don't move it...feed once a month....
it might do better with more attention, but in my case, everytime I do that, I end up having problems.
Thanks Carkin, that little phal is just starting a spike, off an old one....

[1joyceh]

Phil, I am always worried about that....but also worried I will do it too soon...LOL...I guess experience is what I need, and will be able to relax a bit about it, when I get a few more under my belt

[syndywindy]

Looks like they are going to grow nicely. I have one that is about blooming sized and it is probably in the same pot since I got it. I do giv emine a bit of a winters rest, it completely dries out for several days before I water it, and then I don't soak it. I hope I will see it bloom as I am getting tired of waiting on it.

[RebelCowgirl]

They look great Joyce, good job

[terra_australis]

The old sphag looks kinda nasty.

Does anyone know if Den. spectabile has been used in any hybrids?

[1joyceh]

It did look nasty Dan...have been trying to slowly move the orchids into coco or rocks...a few dens are doing really well in just plain old rocks...and am happy with that...using the nobile keikis for that project....
Not sure if used with hybrids, does seem as though Troy Meyers have used it more than a few times for crosses....

[rcb]

Originally Posted by terra_australis

Does anyone know if Den. spectabile has been used in any hybrids?

A search on the RHS site pulled up 18 hybrids.

[orchids4me]

They look great Joyce!!
The are tempermental for sure!!! I had a batch of both crosses back and forth and lost a flask almost that was in sphag.... The original flask that was in coir (mikes mix) faired best but were only in a 1"x1" x2" deep seedling pans with holes so it dried more evenly and quicker. I got a new flask recently trying them out a bit different also this time round...
Good luck with yours!!

[orchids4me]

Joyce wanted to add an obsevation I've had having both crosses. To me. I can't remember wich of the 2 off hand is the dark form and light form of the bloom. But the original one I got over a year ago now had the pod parent is the dark form bloom might be halcyon if I recall correctly and CAS is the green form anyways the dark form pod parent batch is a vigorus grower for me where as I lost an entire falsk of the opposite cross. I did get another with the light form/green pod parent to try again to make sure it wasn't just me lol but I think the lighter pod parent is tempermental in my experience so far but time will tell. Maybe I just had a failre to thrive batch last time

[1joyceh]

Emmaye, so far so good, the roots and leaves looked good and they are doing well after "separation surgery". We will have to wait and see what happens...
I have them in peanuts and perlite in the bottom, then a layer of coir chunks, with sphagnum moss which I soaked in seaweed extract on top...my own idea for this layered concoction....figure it would drain well, I only water when dried out on the top....shouldn't stay wet in the middle...hope I am correct in my thinking...????

[orchids4me]

Originally Posted by 1joyceh

Emmaye, so far so good, the roots and leaves looked good and they are doing well after "separation surgery". We will have to wait and see what happens...
I have them in peanuts and perlite in the bottom, then a layer of coir chunks, with sphagnum moss which I soaked in seaweed extract on top...my own idea for this layered concoction....figure it would drain well, I only water when dried out on the top....shouldn't stay wet in the middle...hope I am correct in my thinking...????

Should be ok keep us updated on the progress. I double checked troy's site and this is the same as my first batch which these are the vigorus growers halcyon is the dark form and this batch I have are doing wonderful have new growths and doubled in size since last year. The ones 'CAS' x 'Halcyon' for some reason weaker. I did get another one recently (wed actually lol) to try to grow them a bit differently this time around see if I can beat the weakness so to speak ( I love a challenge lol) ....
If I still have some in spring be they don't croak again lol I should send you some of the reverse cross see how they do for you
Good luck with the babies !!

[1joyceh]

That would be fantastic Emmaye!! I would love the reverse cross too!
I am really getting hooked on going to the troy website....very addicting....have my name on a few flasks...thanks to Jenny
Will continue to monitor these closely....going to continue with the seaweed treatment, see if there is a difference from other products I use. I will keep you posted

[josepi.13]

would you ever be interested in parting with one of those or where could an individual acquire one??

[JungleMel]

Originally Posted by 1joyceh

Fishmom,
With the big spectabile I have learned that a certain amount of neglect is essential.....seems it hates to be fussed with...I let it go dry, then water....leave it under t5 lighting, don't move it...feed once a month....
it might do better with more attention, but in my case, everytime I do that, I end up having problems.

Interesting. I killed both Dendrobiums I tried, but spectabile is just way too cool I tend to fuss with things so maybe I'll try again and just leave it the heck alone!