Dendrobium rhodostictum questions - Orchid Board

Becca · #1 05-22-2008, 09:14 PM

Hi Everyone! I have a few questions in regards to growing Dendrobium rhodostictum. I purchased one a little over a year ago and transfered it to s/h culture when I received it. It seemed to take right to it, it has grown several new growths since. My questions are:

1) I was told to let it dry out between waterings but I have also read to not let it dry out and always keep it moist, so which does it need? Is s/h perhaps not a good choice for this one?

2) I also read somewhere that it is a mistake to water from the top down when it is putting out new growths but didn't say why, whether in a regular potting medium or a s/h culture, how else are you supposed to water it and why is it bad to water from the top down during new growth?

3) It grows in high light, high humidity, and intermediate temps, and it still seems to dry out quickly and every leaf so far has turned brown starting at the tip and eventually falls off, but the p-bulbs are fine looking, why is this?

I have had a hard time finding info on growing this particular orchid, so any help will be greatly appriciated.

Also, I almost thought of pulling it back out from the s/h culture because the roots closer to the top of the surface seem to be very dry and brittle looking. But upon inspection of the roots, they seem to be ok, not the best, but ok.

Can some one please help me or tell me what I am doing wrong?

TIA!

gmdiaz · #2 05-22-2008, 10:24 PM

Just Googled to see what orchid you were referring to! BOY-OoooOooo is it a beauty.

I read that it should not dry out at all!

And I am betting you've got it in too high light too. I read it takes partial shade.

Temps shouldn't be much of an issue if it stays moist. It grows cool to hot.

I might try. . .and this is just me. . .putting it in a basket with chopped spahgnum and tree fern fiber. Seems like this mix works well for Bulbos and my Dracula. Stays moist but is airy.

About the watering from the top down, I bet that has to do with getting water in the new growth where it could more easily get trapped and cause rot. Since the new growth is sort of delicate, it's probably not a bad idea. . .

But I would think that if you water early in the day and you have really good air circulation, it wouldn't be a big issue.

Be very interested to hear what the experts have to say. . .cause, I am adding this one to my wish list. I LOVE it!

quiltergal · #3 05-23-2008, 12:05 AM

Becca this is cultural information from Dendrobium and It's Relatives by Lavarack, Harris & Stocker.

Den. rhodostictum - In cultivation, this species requires intermediate conditions with year round watering. It should not be allowed to dry out completely, but the medium must be very well drained. Pots or slabs are equally suitable. It should be given filtered light with good air movement.

I love the Latouria section of Dendrobium. I have ordered a Den. atroviolaceum which is very similar to rhodostictum. Both have beautful, unusual flowers. Maybe you just need to water it more frequently?

fluffylily · #4 07-18-2008, 04:34 PM

How is your dendro doing Becca? I am wondering if I should also convert mine to S/H since it says to never let it dry out and I am bad at watering! Let me know how anyone has dealt with this plant since I never have luck with dendrobiums. Thanks.

Becca · #5 07-18-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffylily

How is your dendro doing Becca? I am wondering if I should also convert mine to S/H since it says to never let it dry out and I am bad at watering! Let me know how anyone has dealt with this plant since I never have luck with dendrobiums. Thanks.

Hi! Well to be honest, I freaked out and took it out of the s/h....when I took it out, it had some nice roots deep down in the pot....but for some dang reason I couldn't keep a leaf on the plant....so I put it into a pot of fine bark....I think it hates me...it hasn't done a thing since then and it has been almost 2 months...at least when it was in s/h I was getting new growths....I am really regretting taking out of the s/h, I would put it back in it, but I know I need to be patient and I don't want to shock it even more.....sorry I am not of much help...I was actually online looking for another one recently because I don't know if this one will make it...lol. Could you provide me with a picture of yours? My plant doesn't look like others that I have seen online, but I could just have a very young seedling. Thanks!

fluffylily · #6 07-18-2008, 05:14 PM

Here are the quick shots that I took in the heat of passion as I was unwrapping all of the new plants from the mail, hence the blurriness...the flower looks yellower than the pics that I have seen and has a fuzzy white look around the base of the flower. I am not sure if this flower is just starting to open or starting to die down. I noticed the other nodes on the other canes are all withered away....sad.

Becca · #7 07-18-2008, 05:22 PM

oh jeesh! Sorry I just had to laugh....not because of you...but because mine looks absolutely nothing like yours, and of course yours look more like what I have seen other pictures of, at least the plant part, perhaps either your flower is just opening and it will get whiter, or else it is almost finish blooming and that may be the reason for the color. Is it possible to contact the seller and find out?

I will take a picture of mine this weekend and send it to you, you are soo going to laugh....I don't think my entire plant is larger then say a half inch wide (sorry unsure of conversions) in diameter and no more then a half inch tall....I bought mine from a pretty reputable grower as a seedling and he said it would take a few years to bloom...there is no way my plant is going to turn out to look like yours!

Becca · #8 07-18-2008, 07:07 PM

Ok...well I just got home from work and took a few quick pictures....I know you are going to laugh....lol....so now...I need to figure out what this really is, or if it is just a seedling or what? I know it is pretty bad looking, like I said, it hates me right now for taking it out of the s/h, should have left it in s/h, it seemed ok minus losing all of it's leaves on the new growths it would put out.....shoulda, woulda, coulda!

fluffylily · #9 07-19-2008, 07:41 AM

Wow, I don't know what that is there. I wonder if it might be a seedling but not sure. Good luck with that one, hope you can bring it back and find out what it is!

Becca · #10 07-19-2008, 10:14 AM

I think it is a seedling, I went back to an email I saved from the seller and he said that it should double it's size each year and reach blooming size in 2 t o3 years. This is the worse it has looked, like I said no more new growths and the p-bulbs are shriveling. I'll let you know if I ever get it to bloom someday...lol.