Ursula, last winter I ordered a bunch of "baby" orchids, and 20 of them was a dendrobium variety, a compact Dtps. These were plug plants. Not a single one of these plants had any viable roots, none whatsoever. They were not "mushy" dead, just completely dried up and brittle dead. I contacted the grower and they recommended I remove all the plants from the fir bark media (2 1/2" mesh-pots) and just put them all in a large "community" mesh pot, without any media. The grower was certain they would regrow roots going into their growing season. He said this was a common trait among many dendrobium, particularly when they are still baby plants. I did as instructed and sure enough, 18 out of the 20 did grow roots and are doing well. Another oddity about some of the dendrobium varieties (Dtps. in particular) is that they drop every leaf when dormant. All that's left are "nude" canes. Then they regrow those leaves when their growing season begins. This only seems to occur with my baby plants. None of my mature dendrobium lose leaves, at least not the handful I have. Since I am not much into dendrobium plants I don't know if what I have seen is commonly seen by others.

Dtps is a Phal type orchid, not a Dendrobium, so I am confused.

Jim

Ken, I grew nobile and phal types of den way back when, the nobile will go dormant and loose leaves and you should grow these cool, dry and bright in the winter, then they will really reward with profusion of colorful blooms. I used to ordered a 50pk from H&R in Hawaii and sell them in bloom at fairs, etc when I was in school in Beaumont, Tx's Lamar U. Let's see about 1978, Ha,Ha....

I am sorry for that 'mishap", Jim. I know Dtps. are phals, not dendrobiums. Blame it on age and the stress of re-flooring most of my home. The root/leaf loss is with the dendrobiums. Thanks for catching this.

Thanks. I was kinda scratching my head here too.

In any case, I have hope that the last growths on the C walkeriana will put down roots.

Ken, how is the floor project going? Mine about made me crazy. There are still closet debris that haven't found a.new home yet.

Jim

We started packing up our breakables three days before the installers were due in. They spent 10 days tearing out and then putting down the hardwood. We are now three days post-installation and are still putting things in their places. The good thing (if there is a good thing) is that we have thrown away a bunch of stuff that was just collecting dust. I have badly neglected all my tropical plants and will be glad to get back to my (routine) care of them.

Ok- here is my loot list from the Silva Orchid open house

a division of Slc Beautiful Sunset 'Neptune' ( I mounted it already) If you check my pictures in the open house thread, it is a division from the large clump being heaved from the top shelf having lots of red blooms. I thought it was a cutie and asked if I could have a piece of it.
L sincorana 'Jose Rodriguez'
2 seedlings of Neostylis Baby Angel it will be interesting how they bloom out
C walkeriana 'Pendentive' x 'Tokyo' ( I also mounted this one)
Epidendrum parkinsonianum as mine starts looking very tired after years of blooming for me.
2 seedlings of Darwinara Walnut Valley
2 Neostylis Pinkie, it will also be interesting what color the blooms turn out to be.
Paph delenatii in bud this is 'Toy Semi alba' x 'Elegant semi alba'
And a new one for me - Inobulbon munificum, about a year or two away from blooming. This one has very interesting growth and should bloom very prettily.

Very nice haul, Ursula. I will have to look some of those up.

Jim

So glad you got Beautiful Sunset! I think I lost my Darwinara Walnut Valley. I spent a lot of money for it.

Thanks.
Kathy, the Darwinara Walnut Valley seems to be a remake with reversed parents, if I am not mistaken. They were labeled Virgil x Charm ( Vandofinetia Virgil x Darwinara Charm.). It will be interesting to see them in bloom.

Was very restrained today at the Venice Orchid show, with an Apopka trip looming I didn't want to blow the budget too badly. But I could not turn down two nice plants that have been on my wish list for quite a while. (thanks to Jim and Melanie who have these already)

Recha. Frances Fox from Plantio la Orchidea, a fabulous big plant with 3 flowers nearly spent, but another spike in the offing.


Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Blue Bird' smells so wonderful!

The Francis Fox is a winner, Elaine. You will love it.

I like the Blue Bird as well. I need more Neos.

Jim

Ohh, I love them both!

Whenever I see Neofinetia hybrids offered around here at an Open house/ Shows I just pick some up, can't resist. True charmers!
On a different note - one of the vendors at the North Jersey Orchid Show the other day sold some Fukurin type Neofinetia falcata ( nice variegation), charging100 bucks for one fan. If one really wants one of those, it pays to shop/look around. The more common ones, like Shutenno or Benisuzume are much more reasonably priced, they grow well and bloom nicely. Actually most of them bloom fairly easy.

I guess I'm just not a connoisseur. I think the $25 ones are just as pretty as the $100 ones. I feel the same about Scotch and Champaigne

You have a point, Carol. The same is true of wine.

Jim

We picked up a few Orchids yesterday at the Deep Cut orchid Society Show
Potinara Dick Smith 'Aloha Spirit' - totally gaudy and colorful, in bud. I posted a picture of a Dick Smith in my picture collection from the Show. This purchase evoked some groans from my ever so supportive husband, not that I can blame him!
some small but healthy looking seedlings:
Asctm Mona Church
Renanetia Sunrise
Ascda Blue Tahourdin 'Bronze Grape' x Neo falcata
a real cute hybrid of Brassavola nodosa x Barkeria melanocaulon = Brsk. Rosyleen

Stenorhynchos speciosa
Blc Rugeleys Mill 'Mendenhall' this one is slightly smaller than Chia Lin, but it is really dark, much darker than picture shows and smells just as great as Blc Chia Lin.

I love that nodosa cross!

Jim

Love the color on Blc. Rugeleys Mill 'Mendenhall'

I picked up a couple at our local show today too. Den.Proud Appeal 'ace' and Blc. Emily Simmons 'Mendenhall' (not in bloom)
And this Phal. from Costco last week

Looking good, Carol!

I had to look up the Brsk - it is Brassokeria. I always love Barkerias ( my melanocaulon still blooms since last Fall and it is a really good "performer"), so when I saw this nodosa x, I jumped at it.