I just bought a dendrobium orchid?

Question

i just got a denbrobium orchid and was wandering the following

btw i live in the bahamas.....

*how often too water

*how often to fertilize \

*if it can hang in a basket with bark under my avacado tree

*how many times a year does it flower(its already mature btw)

*how to harvest its seeds to plant more orchids...???

thanks for your help

Answer 1

I was waiting for someone with experience growing orchids outdoors in tropical conditions to answer this, but I have been growing orchids successfully for ten years as houseplants so maybe I can help you.

In nature Dendrobiums live on trees as epiphytes, and in fact there are several species of orchids native to the Bahamas that do this as well. So you are in a good place to begin growing your orchid!

Because your plant is adapted to growing in a fairly exposed place with little in the way of nutrients, you need to simulate this environment by watering thoroughly only when the bark in the basket has dried completely. I would imagine that seasonal rainfall in your location will satisfy your plant most of the year, but do check on it from time to time to make sure it's doing well. Your plant will grow and flower without added nutrients since it is planted in an organic medium (bark) that will give off nutriment as it decays (which will happen rapidly in the high heat and humidity of your area---I would repot it in fresh bark once a year or use something that decays more slowly). If you choose to use fertilizer, do so only when the plant is actively growing or flowering, and do not apply it at every watering. "Regular" fertilizer like Miracle Gro can be used, but dilute it to 25% of the recommended stregth for flowering plants.

Yes, the dappled light and air movement under your avocado tree should be excellent for your orchid. If it receives morning sun in this location, even better. I actually give mine full sun almost all day here in Maryland...that may be too intense for them where you live, though. Do increase the light if by this time next year is has not rebloomed, though.

Hybrid dendrobiums I have kept tend to flower about every 7 months...but in your case I bet they could bloom three times a year. The blooms last quite a long time, too.

Harvesting seeds from your Dendrobium is not really an option for increasing your plant. This is because you would first need to pollinate it with pollen from another Dendrobium, let the seed pod mature for several months, and then find a laboratory willing to sow the seed for you under sterile conditions...it is tricky to germinate orchid seed and almost all commercially produced seed-grown orchids begin their lives in flasks of agar gel in plant labs. A better idea is to concentrate on growing your plant well until it gets large enough for you to divide it into a few new plants.

Best of luck with your new plant...there is a wealth of information on the orchid hobby availiable on the internet and I might also suggest you contact an orchid society in your area for more details as to good care. (They are also an excellent source for buying/trading new plants!)