QuestionQUESTION: Hi,
I've had phals before and learned how to take good care of them. But, I just bought a dendrobium for the first time and it seems pretty healthy. It's medium is some kind of log that seems to be made of thick palm tree bark. Today I looked underneath the log and I a grey patch of what looked like fungi along with a tiny spider inside the log. One of the roots had a strange aqua-blueish coloring on it too.
Is this normal?
Also I would like to know how to make it flower again once the blooms have all faded. I bought one of those terracycle worm poop spray bottles that worked well on the phals. Will that help a dendrobium flower as well?
ANSWER: Theo, a picture might be helpful. The "thick palm tree bark' may be fir bark-- a standard orchid potting medium. However, it's not clear from your description, how the log fits in. Sometimes, orchids are grown on, or in, a hollow cactus log called a choya. The aqua bluish coloring may be from a fungicide called kocide. The growing conditions you have described are quite unconventional, but could work well once the dendrobium has been established.
As for flowering, it depends upon the type of dendrobium it is. If it has a name, that can be helpful in answering your question. In general, dendrobiums, like most orchids, bloom once a year. However, the type of dendrobium determines whether it blooms on old growth or new growth, whether or not it is a deciduous orchid, and the usual time of year for blooming. Unlike phalaenopsis, dendrobiums are much more variable in growth and blooming depending upon the type. So, in short, any more information you can provide might help me give you a more specific answer.
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QUESTION: It's a white dendrobium phalaenopsis(the flowers resemble those of the phalaenopsis orchid type). Your description of the log/bark is correct. It's not growing out of a hollowed out log, rather it seems to have been planted inside the fir bark or choya because the roots can only be seen growing out of the bottom. The mold/fungus I mentioned seems to be the result of decomposition, but I'm still not sure.
The bark or choya is a light, stringly consistancy, and the inner grain is redish-brown in color.
I hope that helps.
ANSWER: Theo, the dendrobium phalaenopsis flowers on new growth. Unlike phalaenopsis orchids, they are not (or should not be) in continuous growth. Your plant should be given a rest when not in an active growth period. This means little or no watering during the rest period. Water only enough to keep the canes firm. The principal reason dendrobiums go downhill is because they are watered too much during their rest period.
Since it seems to do well in its current environment, I would not repot it. When repotting dendrobiums, this should only be attempted when new canes are emerging. I can provide more details on the repotting process if, and when, you choose to repot. Phalaenopsis dendrobiums like as much light as you can provide and are warm growers (ie 60 -85 degrees). When new canes arise you may begin feeding with a balanced fertilizer. If there is sufficient light, when the new canes have matured (ie are as large or larger than the older canes) you can expect to see bloom spikes begin to emerge. I'm not familiar with the terracycle bottles you mentioned, but they may well provide some nutrients and can be tried on dendrobiums as well. I suspect that the terracycle bottles provide a dilute source of nutrients, so you may want to supplement with a standard balanced inorganic fertilizer (eg 20/20/20) at 1/4 the recommended dosage. Newly matured canes will be somwwhat straw colored if they have had sufficient light. Feed only when there is new growth. A plant at rest cannot make use of any fertilizer you may provide and, in fact, some components of the fertiizer could accumulate to toxic levels in the potting mix.
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QUESTION: Thanks a lot for the information! I bought my mom a dendrobium phalaenopsis 2 years ago and it's not doing very well, but the phals she has do well on their own. I guess phals are a little easier to take of(?)
When does a dendrobium phal rest? Is there a specific time during the year? How many times does it flower during the year? Right now there is one small spike along with the tip of a new cane coming out from the base of the plant. Should I keep fertilizing it even though it has flowers in bloom? When I used the terracycle on phals their leaves grew larger and the produced many colorful flowers.
The plant is always surrounded by light to the point where I'm a little worried that it might be getting too much(I heard dendrobiums shouldn't get direct sunlight from 11am to 3pm).
AnswerTheo, with regard to the dendrobium rest period-- it usually starts with flowering. However, watering and/or feeding the dendrobium can delay or eliminate the rest period which is not a good thing. I recommend that you start withholding watering and feeding once the plant comes into bloom.
A dendrobium, like most orchids, flowers once per year. The time of year for flowering can vary. I have seen phalaenopsis dendrobiums in flower most any time of the year. Once you have established growing conditions, however, your plant should flower about the same time each year.
With regard to light, there are many factors that come into play. Generally speaking, a higher light environment tends to promote flowering. Dendrobiums are a higher light plant than phals.. The amount of light a plant can take is a function of temperature, humidity, and air movement. A plant stops growing between 85-90 degrees. Humidity and air movement are both desirable at higher light levels. When increasing light levels, do it gradually to give the plant time to adjust. While phals should not be exposed to direct sunlight during the brightest tome of the day, this is not as true for dendrobiums. especially if the temperature is less than 90 degrees and you can provide good air movement and humidity and an oppoprtunity for the dendrobium to adjust to the higher light levels.
