Den. cuthbertsonii in SH?

[Rothrock42]

After a recent visit to Golden Gate Orchids in San Francisco, I find myself with two darling little Dendrobium cuthbertsonii. In the green house they were quite cool and damp, I assume pretty much all the time.

I grow in my apartment and I don't keep it that low or that damp. I've had some success with masdevallias and a pleurothais by moving them to ventilated clay pots with leca and keeping them in a saucer. I also have a fan that blows over them keeping them cooler from the evaporation.

The water where I live has very low TDS and I give them a good flush in the sink every week or two. Otherwise just fill up the saucers and let them go.

I was thinking of removing the new ones from their mounts and putting them into the same situation.

Good idea or no?

Anybody else tried this?

[Ray]

If they like cool and damp, and you have found that you can grow others liking that same situation, why not?

I would wait until they are exploding with new root emergence before proceeding, though.

[estación seca]

I suspect they now have very short root systems. The plant will not be able to take up water until the new, S/H adapted roots grow into the zone in the container that stays moist.

Before the roots grow into the moist zone, you will need to make sure the roots don't dry out longer than this plant tolerates.

Oh - and I wouldn't move both at the same time.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I suspect they now have very short root systems. The plant will not be able to take up water until the new, S/H adapted roots grow into the zone in the container that stays moist.

However, you could water more often. In many cases, I have found that the whole semi-Hydroponic is a method to get a good wet/dry cycle. At the very beginning, the roots are very wet, Then depending on how quickly you drain, and how moisture retentive your mix is, the only water left is at the bottom, in the reservoir. When that is evaporated out, you would water again. Many orchid species live through monsoon when the plant is totally wet for many months, and then the dry season comes. They are masters of saving water, hence CAM plants.

[Rothrock42]

ES -- I totally agree with what you've said, and if I were wise I would do as you suggest, but of course my impulsive nature won out.

I've moved them to semi-hydro in clay pots. I'll keep the water reservoir deeper until I see signs of roots. That should keep enough moisture near the existing roots...fingers crossed.

[estación seca]

It probably won't work unless you water every day until new roots grow to the moist zone.