Dendrobium species, winter, water, light, etc.

[nancy]

Greetings -
Have any species fans/fiends developed a simple system to label or tag plants with cultural keys for overwintering Dendrobium species?
I started getting Charles Baker's culture sheets for each new species (very highly recommended), and have cobbled together a spread sheet for the light/heat/water requirements over the winter for each species.
But that's paper, this is real life...last winter, I hung paper tags, blue for cool, red for warm, with pencilled notes (dry March, etc.). Feeble at best, as they have all decomposed.
Who has a brilliant system that I can - uh - steal?
Thanks - Nancy

[Gin]

Mine is really lame . I put a skewer with the end paint red (nail polish ) in the pots of those that want reduced water but not cool .
The ones that want A winter cool down and less water are grouped together in a cool area on the enclosed porch ,they are the species Dends . At one time I gave each plant a number that was entered in Microsoft works along with the name . Gin

[nancy]

Originally Posted by Gin

Mine is really lame . I put a skewer with the end paint red (nail polish ) in the pots of those that want reduced water but not cool .
The ones that want A winter cool down and less water are grouped together in a cool area on the enclosed porch ,they are the species Dends . At one time I gave each plant a number that was entered in Microsoft works along with the name . Gin

Hi Gin - your system is no lamer than mine!
Problem is getting to be: about 10 deciduous dens. - some like 2 weeks hard dry, ranging up to 3-4 months. Cool to warm (which I have less control over). Others, not deciduous, but some like it dry in January, others in March. Others like lots of water in January and February, etc. etc.
My control is so lacking that I keep looking for heat-tolerant dendrobium species, and sometimes buying them, begging for them, trading for them.
Bonus: if I keep it together, they bloom!
I was trying to figure out a way to sub-divide into groups of like-culture. But then, once the possibility of error creeps in, so does my tendency to shoot myself in the foot.
Cheers - Nancy

[brooke]

I use crime scene tape to attach to the container or mount with the instructions written on the tape. The bright color makes me (and my hubby) stop and read the instructions.

You also learn as you go through the winter of what needs what.

Brooke

[LauraN]

I too made a spread sheet on mine and bought colored dots to attach to the name tags. Then when fall starts up I begin to group them all together, with the no water ones on the furthest end and progress across in order of what their needs are...pretty lame also, but you can put some clear packing tape over the dots to seal it in...

[stefpix]

Nancy - I am wondering what Dendrobiums are you looking for and what are an anathema!

I have a D kingianum that seems to be slower slower than anything else - I got it at teh beginning [still a novice] becuz i read it is easy and fool proof - but while hybrids are producing new canes/ growth the kingianum seems frozen in time.

also have a D spectabile, D formosum [great buy on ebay], D stratiotes. any luck with these? hope their requirements are close enough...
stefano