Tall dendrobiums - any tips?

[jwhawaii]

Does anyone have any tips for keeping tall dendrobiums upright when repotting? I've got 2 that have canes 3-4 feet in height and they are in need of splitting. They currently lean way over and I've resorted to tying it to the legs of the orchid benches to keep them up.

My current potting mix consists of fir bark, sponge rock, and black cinders. Is there anything else I can use to help these giants stay up?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Do you have anything to hang them from? I have most of my Dendrobiums wired. I take a long, stiff wire, about the equivalent of a coat hanger, which would probably do, and bend one end into a squared off U shape. One leg of the U is the long end of the wire, the other leg of the U is about an inch long. The bottom of the U is exactly the length of the distance between oposite drainage holes of the Den's pot. Then, after repotting, I stick the long end of the U up thru one dranage whole of the pot and pull it all the way up threw the pot until I can put the other leg of the U thru the opposing drainage hole. Now, bend the top of the long leg into a hook, and tie the canes to the long leg. The only complication is that you should sterilizr this wire, as it may stab a root while being pushed thru the pot. I use new wire which helps. Next time I am in the greenhouse, I will take a picture of one of these. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[captripppp]

For all of my larger, taller plants i.e. den. or cat. I generally use a large ring stake, and/or use twist ties to tie all of the canes together. If you get the roll of twist tie material you can cut a long enough piece to run around every cane/psuedobulb, therefore making all of the pieces one unit. Thats just what I do until my newly repotted tall plants get established. Aaron