Need Dendrobium advice

[The Orchid Boy]

I rescued a Dendrobium aggregatum v. majus and a Dendrobium Thongchai Gold 'Viroj' today. The aggregatum seems nice sized, healthy w/ lots of p-bulbs. The other one is a dendro-phal type I think, and has 2 mature growths with 1 or maybe more starting. The first is in a platic pot in bark, second is in sphag in a platic pot. I just read that the aggregatum can be a little tougher to grow and needs a cool and very dry winter. I've never had a dendrobium before and can use all the help I can get.

 

[SlipperFan]

I personally would not grow a phalaenopsis-type Dendrobium in sphagnum. I agree that the aggregatum likes a cooler, dryer winter season, but the phal-type needs water year-around. They both like lots of light.

 

[The Orchid Boy]

It seems healthy in sphagnum and doesn't have any root rot. I also grow all my cattleyas in sphagnum because I overwatered them in bark. Unlike most people I tend to overwater things in bark and underwater things in sphagnum. Most of the time I use a mix of mostly bark with a little sphag.

 

[Stone]

Grow the agg. on cork and you won't go far wrong. If the hybrid is a tropical hard-cane type, maybe try leca and as much heat, light and humidity (with air) you can give it.. Remember the golden rule with Dend. Small pots and don't disturb until new roots are comming out of NEW growth.

 

[Ozpaph]

I wouldn't grow the hard cane in spag - but if you're really careful with the winter watering it might work. Better if you can keep the spag alive.
I grow my aggregatum in a woven plastic basket/pot but mounting is a great idea.

 

[The Orchid Boy]

I would absolutely LOVE to mount the aggregatum but I don't know if it would do ok in humidity around 50%-60%, or would it? I was thinking if I didn't mount it, use a courser mix of bark, charcoal, and perlite or medium lava rock in a clay pot.

 

[keithrs]

You can pot both in crushed 1-2" pieces of terra cotta(pots) or clay brick in TC pots. You won't have to worry about over watering.

Usually when people get rot in bark from "overwatering" its really because theres a pathogen in the bark causing your roots to rot. People will take that as rot from overwatering rather them a problem in there media. You have a better chance of "overwatering" in sphag. then bark because you can 'seal' the air movement in the pot and drown the roots if it gets to wet. Water itself will not cause rot hints SH.

 

[SlipperFan]

I would absolutely LOVE to mount the aggregatum but I don't know if it would do ok in humidity around 50%-60%, or would it? I was thinking if I didn't mount it, use a courser mix of bark, charcoal, and perlite or medium lava rock in a clay pot.

Try mounting it and then hang it inside a big clay pot that is sitting in water. This worked for me for years before I got my greenhouse. The big clay pot wicks up the water (soak it first) and provides some humidity to the plant(s) hanging inside.

 

[Ozpaph]

I would absolutely LOVE to mount the aggregatum but I don't know if it would do ok in humidity around 50%-60%, or would it? I was thinking if I didn't mount it, use a courser mix of bark, charcoal, and perlite or medium lava rock in a clay pot.

Thicker leaved orchids are more tolerant of lower humidity conditions.

 

[goldenrose]

I would absolutely LOVE to mount the aggregatum but I don't know if it would do ok in humidity around 50%-60%, or would it? I was thinking if I didn't mount it, use a courser mix of bark, charcoal, and perlite or medium lava rock in a clay pot.

Mine was mounted, it grew like a weed but no matter what I did I couldn't get it to bloom ... but it will now 'cause I sold it this fall!

 

[The Orchid Boy]

I mounted a little cattleya once and couldn't keep it watered enough and it eventually died. So I'm a little afraid to try any other orchids mounted.

 

[bballr4567]

You could always mount it with a little spag like I do so they dont dry out so fast.

 

[The Orchid Boy]

What about basket culture? I wouldn't be able to hang the basket under my light but I could set it directly on the wire shelf or boost it up with a clay pot or something. If I did basket culture, what media and how often would I have to water? I thought about bark and watering every day or every other day or sphagnum and not watering until it completely dries out and then wait a day or two just to be sure.

 

[The Orchid Boy]

Any information or opinions about basket culture with bark or sphagnum?

 

[keithrs]

You can pot both in crushed 1-2" pieces of terra cotta(pots) or clay brick in TC pots. You won't have to worry about over watering.

How about trying this? It works! You can even use plastic pots if you want.

 

[Leo Schordje]

My first thought is, pot them in the mix you know how to water. You need to be able to predict when mix will need water. Sounds like you know how to use sphagnum, so stick with sphagnum. Do not try to have a custom mix for every plant. One or two mixes that you know how to water is best. I have seen beautiful plants grown in pure sphagnum, if it is working well stick with it.

Second, do not do repotting unless you have new root buds on new growths. Out of season repotting of Dendrobium and Cattleya are frequent causes of failure to thrive. Unless there is an emergency, wait until new growth starts putting out roots.

I would grow the aggregatum as a mount, but don't move it until new growth is underway.

Hope they do well for, the advice from others on hight light is correct.
Hope this helps

 

[The Orchid Boy]

Sounds like a mount for the aggregatum is the way to go. Would it really do well mounted in low humidity? I don't want to have to do anything special for humidity. Would a treefern plaque be good? How do I give it a dry winter rest mounted? Same as in a pot but water a little more?

 

[keithrs]

Sounds like a mount for the aggregatum is the way to go. Would it really do well mounted in low humidity? I don't want to have to do anything special for humidity. Would a treefern plaque be good? How do I give it a dry winter rest mounted? Same as in a pot but water a little more?

It will be fine if watered daily while growing. I have never used treefern but it should be ok to use. Winter rest is very easy to do to mounted plants. Reduce watering to once a week or so, No fert., Give cool night temps, increase waterings as night temps start come up.

 

[Leo Schordje]

My humidity is very low in winter, yet I have many mounted orchids, some Dendrobiums. I water 'resting' mounted Dendrobs, about once a week. This seems dry enough. In summer actively growing mounts get watered every 3 to 5 days. It may not be ideal, but it works for me.

Tree fern or cork? They both work well, which ever you have on hand is the one to use.

 

[The Orchid Boy]

I was thinking about a treefern plaque because I heard they can hold a little more moisture. Can they?

Thanks so much for the help everyone!