New and Need Advice re Dendrobium Kingianum

[Jeanie]

Hello everyone,

Heartened by Dorothy's words on another post "Remember - there are no dumb questions !" I have decided to be brave and ask away ...

First of all, I am a complete beginner ... I don't even know the names of the parts of these beautiful things, but I have bought a book and I'm determined to learn.

I live in Melbourne in Australia and have for some years now, been the owner of two DK's (which I now see are called something else). Anyway, I have ignored them completely for about 4 years now ... they flower each season, then hibernate again, but I think they are looking somewhat ill and need to come out of their pots. I have read somewhere that I can pop them on to the trunk of a tree fern and they will thrive. I would love to do this as I have quite a few in my garden here in the mountains just outside Melbourne.

My question is, how? I know I've pushed my luck in not really caring for them, but all of a sudden I've realised I am quite attached to them and don't want to lose them now.

What are the necessary steps I must take to enable them to grow on their own on a ... is it called a host ... tree?

I will be very grateful for any advice ... and then I might even pluck up the courage to ask about my other orchid which I inherited five years ago and have finally separated and put in two pots (hopefully they will live).

Jeanie