2 orchids need your expertise.

[OrchidAddict]

Hi Katherine, sorry for not reading this post earlier but I think you should remount the second plant. The correct ID that plant is Dendrobium lindleyii (formerly Den. aggregatum). The shape of the pseudobulbs and their closely set growth pattern are very distinctive and different from cattleyas and their relatives. They rot very easily and therefore pot culture is generally unsuccessful (though not impossible). It likes to be mounted but can also grow in a shallow hanging slat basket filled with coarse bark pieces, which allows the medium to dry out within hours after watering the plant. It likes it hot and humid in summer and needs VERY bright, cool to intermediate conditions in winter when it should only be watered once or twice a month from December to the end February. During this time the plant must be hung in the ridge of the greenhouse or set in a southfacing window (but indoors you must choose a room where it won't get too warm or burn the leaves, which is not a problemin a greenhouse) as they will not bloom if they don't get maximum light, a dry rest and cooler temperatures.

Wow, nice job on the ID!!

Katherine, I did a bit of digging online and found some info on this plant:

"Dendrobium lindleyi is a showy plant with bright yellow orange flowers. The magnificent flowers of Dendrobium lindleyi are a huge reward from an easy to grow species. Possibly best grown in a basket or mounted on a treefern slab with extra water, the species will then develop into large specimens. Very amenable to cultivation, just rest the plant in the cooler months, use lots of water, fertiliser, good drainage and bright sunlight just short of leaf burn. I find that they only flower best when grown in high light conditions and must be protected from winter rainfall if at all possible. I give them a very brief spray maybe every 2 or 3 weeks over winter and don't stress too much when you notice they have shrivelled a little....they will benefit from that and reward you with prolific flowers."


It does seem that this dendrobium is more of a miniature in habit...the pseudobulbs and leaves don't seem to get very tall, but the long, arching sprays of flowers are gorgeous!!

From what I'm seeing online, this den can be grown in baskets, so if you're not a fan of mounting (which I'm not), you may have success with lava rock in a net pot. I'm also seeing pics of people growing them in clay pots...I've had success with plants that like to be mounted in very coarse bark in clay pots, so that may be another option for you. Here's a pic of one in clay:



At any rate, since you have several divisions of the plant, you could always try one in lava rock in a net pot, one in coarse bark in clay, and one mounted to see which grows the best in your conditions. Just use your orchid grower instincts and you'll find the key to making this plant happy! Keep us posted!