Dendrobium Magnum Culture - Orchid Board

Roger Horman · #1 08-09-2009, 07:16 AM

I recently purchased a bare root Dendrobium Magnum from Venezuela and have found no culture info to date. After soaking the roots overnight in water, I mounted this large two-foot-long plant on a sheet of cork bark and wrapped the roots in a ball of sphagnum. It is in our warm to hot greenhouse. The roots were very dry and hard at purchase. Does anyone have culture info for this species? Any suggestions for an alternate method of planting? Thanks.

boytjie · #2 08-09-2009, 09:14 AM

I've got six varieties of Dendrochilum. Our growing conditions are very different, so the only tips I can give you about them that are pretty universal are 1) they are water hogs and don't like to dry out; and 2) they like to be pot-bound, and aren't crazy about having their roots disturbed.

Roger Horman · #3 08-09-2009, 09:39 AM

Thank you for the quick and explicit reply. I bought this from a representative of Plantio La Orquidea, Caracas, Venezuela at an Orchid sale. I have bought things from them before with good outcomes. He was clear that this was a Dendrobium vs a Dendrochilum, but as I indicated, I've found no reference to such an orchid but many to Dendrochilum Magnum. The appearance is a mass of about two foot long cames that have a decidely dendrobium appearance, with leaves near the terminal end of each. They droop such that the plant looked terrible in a pot and I decided to use a cork mount. Does this plant sound like your Dendrochilum? I'm beginning to wonder if my orchid was misnamed by the vendor and is actually a Dendrochilum. However, I've not seen a photo of this orchid showing the full plant vs. the blooms. Thanks again.

Roger Horman

Quote:

Originally Posted by boytjie

I've got six varieties of Dendrochilum. Our growing conditions are very different, so the only tips I can give you about them that are pretty universal are 1) they are water hogs and don't like to dry out; and 2) they like to be pot-bound, and aren't crazy about having their roots disturbed.

boytjie · #4 08-09-2009, 09:46 AM

That doesn't sound like a Dendrochilum at all. Here is a pic of Dendrochilum magnum (aka D. macranthum): Orchid Web: Dendrochilum magnum

As you can see, no canes. Dendrochilum species typically have small-ish egg-shaped pseudobulbs topped by long dark-green sword-shaped leaves.

quiltergal · #5 08-09-2009, 12:00 PM

Roger, OrchidWiz says Den. Magnum does not exist. If there were an alias it would have listed it. It must be something else???

Roger Horman · #6 08-09-2009, 08:09 PM

Thank you Teri. I am convinced. I also checked OrchidWiz before posting and could not find it. I thought that I might have misspelled it. I'm going to assume that this name is invalid and that I'm going to have to get an ID on it somewhere.

Here is a photo of the plant in question:

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Roger, OrchidWiz says Den. Magnum does not exist. If there were an alias it would have listed it. It must be something else???

Roger Horman · #7 09-04-2009, 06:15 PM

quiltergal:

I now have an ID on this orchid. Apparently my notes were in error. It is Dendrobium miyakei from Venezuela.

Roger Horman

orchideric · #8 09-05-2009, 12:33 AM

Dear Roger,

Dendrobium miyakei is a later name for D. goldschmidtianum. It is native to the northern Philippines and southern Taiwan. Contrary to an AOS Presidents message, it is N O T extinct in the wild. Utter nonsense.

Hope that helps, Eric

Roger Horman · #9 09-21-2009, 02:32 PM

Eric:

I was unclear in my statement. I knew where the species originated, now that I know what it is....I was referring to the place where it was grown and shipped, which was Venezuela. I appreciate the information, nonetheless, I am in a constant learning mode on Orchids, to which I have been addicted for a little less than two years. Since I retired a few years ago, I have sort of jumped in the "deep end" and am struggling with learning a great deal in a short time. People like you and Orchid Board members have been of enormous help. I have joined the AOS as well as the VOS (Virginia) and the ROA (Richmond, VA) and have attended a number of shows, bought "too many" orchids of diverse species (and many hybrids), which has made my "job" harder. I was cautioned to start slow and stay focused on a narrow range of orchids and grow from there, but I guess I'm not very good at accepting cautious advice. In general, things are going well, with 191 orchids, almost all of blooming size, and nearly 50 orchids I'm raising from a flask.

Anyway, there are big holes in what I know, but I'm trying to bridge them. Thanks again.

Roger