Dendrobium Cuthbertsonii Help

[Phragy]

I’ve recently acquired a new Dendrobium Cuthbertsonii and I’m curious about some of the specific growing requirements. I currently live in New Zealand (Central north island) and I’m wondering if it’s safe to keep the plant outdoors. I’ve read quit a bit of contradicting information about light & and water and it’s doing my head in.

I know there’s been several threads on this plant but I can’t find anything specific to New Zealand’s climate. It’s quit humid year round with temps that don’t get too high. Can this plant tolerate rain and temps in the mid to low 60s?

Any info to help cater to its needs would be greatly appreciated.

[Roberta]

I am starting to feel like I am having a bit of success with Den. cuthbertsonii (at least alive, growing and blooming for a couple of years) so just maybe I am finally learning to grow this tricky species... My summers are a little on the warm side for them (daytime summer highs mostly below 85 deg F, 30 deg. C, occasionally a bit higher) but relatively cool summer nights, that seems to help them tolerate the heat. Winter lows mostly above 40 deg F, 4 deg C, occasionally a bit lower but little or no frost. If medium is well-drained (or even better, mounted) rain should be no problem. Pure water is critical (until I got a reverse-osmosis system, I failed miserably with them), rain is of course the best. They can tolerate quite a bit of light - I had been growing mine fairly shady, then talked to Andy Phillips of Andy's Orchids, who has a huge species nursery in my area, and he has found that his Den. cutherbersonii bloomed much better with more light. So, I think dappled sun or bright shade.

But unless you have significant frost, outside is definitely the place to grow them. If it is only for a few hours, a bit of frost won't hurt them. This is definitely a cool-growing species, summer heat is more of an issue.