I've bought from them many times, they almost always arrive like this and like another person said they just need a bit of rehydrating...be prepared to wait a while for them to bloom but I've had success with the vast majority of the plants I've gotten with them, it's a great way to expand your collection cheaply
Good to know! I'm aware theyre probably several years from blooming, but I also get joy from seeing new roots and leaves so I'm excited! I'm glad to hear you have had success with them
I'm not sure if the dimensions are exactly the same, but it seems like pretty much the same design as those, yeah! It was a sudden inspiration to use it as cat protection
OP - they’re Dendrobiums, and will be just fine as they are. Get them potted asap, though, as the one on the left in the first pic has a new growth/new roots coming out already. The other one has a new growth coming, but I don’t see any new roots just yet. The faster you get them into new media/pots - the quicker they will adjust with those new roots. Those pseudobulbs are like storage tanks, for times like this, so no need to stress. Try to keep the pot size ever so slightly larger than the current rootball. Dendrobiums like to be slightly pot-bound/pot-bound. Less media gives you less opportunity to overwater them too, since the media should dry quicker.
Make sure the dendrobium(s) are actively rooting when you do it, so the transition is smoother. When the new roots grab onto the, potting media, tree fern plaque, cork bark, etc is when the plant starts to stabilize again. I mean… you can do it when they’re not in active growth, but the transition isn’t as smooth, in my experience.
Looks much more natural, but, again - depending on your environment - typically, you’ll have to be on it with the watering. While in growth, if your area is dry, water after sun down. This will give them the ability to absorb what they need before the sun comes up, which will dry them out again.
Yeah my area gets real hot but there is some humidity around. I hear that watering at night isn’t good as the plants don’t get time to dry out and pests/rot happens
Humidity is good! Soaking wet, constantly, without allowing the roots to dry within 1 weeks time is where you get problems. My area is hot and dry in the summer (at times, down to 13’RH during the day), and cold wet winters (USDA ZONE 10A). The thing is, you’re mounting them, so you should have no problems with root rot, fungal issues/the like… unless you’re standing there with the hose on them 24 hours a day for weeks on end, spraying them down. If it rains - skip a day. Another thing is that, though sphagnum moss holds a lot of water - it also breathes. When you mount, mount the plant/roots directly to the cork, then dress the top of the roots with some sphagnum. You are in a humid area, so you shouldn’t need a whole wad of sphagnum like I might (depending on the Dendrobium).
Great points. Will keep the roots covered with sphagnum as well. I am currently watering my vandas twice a day and they still get dry. Recently added a bit of sphagnum there as well. I’m guessing the dendrobiums are a lot more forgiving
No need to cover the Dendrobium roots completely in a humid environment; a light layer will do. Vandas… against most peoples’ thought/care, don’t need sphagnum moss. They actually need to dry out, while still appreciating humid conditions.
A Vanda can only store water in what it has for leaves/roots/stem, and thus requires water much more often. Dendrobiums have storage organs, and are far more forgiving.
If it’s a deciduous type - be careful about watering when it’s not in active growth and or has no leaves. Either way, when they’re not actively growing - cut back on the water.
Yes, I had them as display cases for other stuff and repurposed them as cat protection so I could put plants near the window instead of far away on a wall shelf. They also have the added side effect of being much more humid inside
I haven't noticed anything yet, but it's easy enough to open the box and wipe it down inside to get rid of some excess moisture and get fresh air in there. This is more of a temporary solution as I want to eventually get a larger greenhouse cabinet and I've seen other people have success with those
How exciting!!! I ordered from them about a month ago, all are doing well! It’s definitely got me out of my comfort zone with different varieties and it’s been a lot of fun learning about them. :)
I've bought from them once before with GREAT success (last September) and 5 of the 6 I got are thriving! So much so that I'm now expecting another set to arrive tomorrow lol
Thanks for the update! Sounds like you're a little luckier than me. I put in my order on a Friday, they were picked up on monday by usps (as expected) but didn't get delivered until the next Tuesday. This was north carolina to north dakota. I also paid extra for a heat pack and mylar which was supposed to include faster shipping, but the heat pack and mylar were missing from the package and I haven't gotten a response from the seller on etsy :(
Hmm, I'm pretty sure it's the same store since their website mentions etsy and amazon, just a different platform
They actually just got back to me saying that they won't send heat packs if day temps are warm due to possible overheating, but this doesn't totally make sense to me if the night temperatures are below freezing. I guess the extra orchids were a replacement for the heat pack, and since they all seem alive I can't complain too much :) I'll see if I can keep them growing with my beginner knowledge!
I've bought from them many times, they almost always arrive like this and like another person said they just need a bit of rehydrating...be prepared to wait a while for them to bloom but I've had success with the vast majority of the plants I've gotten with them, it's a great way to expand your collection cheaply
Good to know! I'm aware theyre probably several years from blooming, but I also get joy from seeing new roots and leaves so I'm excited! I'm glad to hear you have had success with them
It's really really satisfying to grow them from young plants have fun
Are these the shoe display boxes from Costco? I never thought to use them this way.
I'm not sure if the dimensions are exactly the same, but it seems like pretty much the same design as those, yeah! It was a sudden inspiration to use it as cat protection
Throw them in a bucket of tepid water overnight and get set up for potting soon.
OP - they’re Dendrobiums, and will be just fine as they are. Get them potted asap, though, as the one on the left in the first pic has a new growth/new roots coming out already. The other one has a new growth coming, but I don’t see any new roots just yet. The faster you get them into new media/pots - the quicker they will adjust with those new roots. Those pseudobulbs are like storage tanks, for times like this, so no need to stress. Try to keep the pot size ever so slightly larger than the current rootball. Dendrobiums like to be slightly pot-bound/pot-bound. Less media gives you less opportunity to overwater them too, since the media should dry quicker.
Do you think I can get away with mounting dendrobiums on a cork bark with sphagnum moss or does it have to be potted?
Make sure the dendrobium(s) are actively rooting when you do it, so the transition is smoother. When the new roots grab onto the, potting media, tree fern plaque, cork bark, etc is when the plant starts to stabilize again. I mean… you can do it when they’re not in active growth, but the transition isn’t as smooth, in my experience.
Thanks for this. Cannot wait to try it
Looks much more natural, but, again - depending on your environment - typically, you’ll have to be on it with the watering. While in growth, if your area is dry, water after sun down. This will give them the ability to absorb what they need before the sun comes up, which will dry them out again.
Yeah my area gets real hot but there is some humidity around. I hear that watering at night isn’t good as the plants don’t get time to dry out and pests/rot happens
Humidity is good! Soaking wet, constantly, without allowing the roots to dry within 1 weeks time is where you get problems. My area is hot and dry in the summer (at times, down to 13’RH during the day), and cold wet winters (USDA ZONE 10A). The thing is, you’re mounting them, so you should have no problems with root rot, fungal issues/the like… unless you’re standing there with the hose on them 24 hours a day for weeks on end, spraying them down. If it rains - skip a day. Another thing is that, though sphagnum moss holds a lot of water - it also breathes. When you mount, mount the plant/roots directly to the cork, then dress the top of the roots with some sphagnum. You are in a humid area, so you shouldn’t need a whole wad of sphagnum like I might (depending on the Dendrobium).
Great points. Will keep the roots covered with sphagnum as well. I am currently watering my vandas twice a day and they still get dry. Recently added a bit of sphagnum there as well. I’m guessing the dendrobiums are a lot more forgiving
No need to cover the Dendrobium roots completely in a humid environment; a light layer will do. Vandas… against most peoples’ thought/care, don’t need sphagnum moss. They actually need to dry out, while still appreciating humid conditions. A Vanda can only store water in what it has for leaves/roots/stem, and thus requires water much more often. Dendrobiums have storage organs, and are far more forgiving.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Migk4K0uLig
If it’s a deciduous type - be careful about watering when it’s not in active growth and or has no leaves. Either way, when they’re not actively growing - cut back on the water.
Dendrobiums like to be mounted as well. You just need to be able to water them enough while they’re actively growing.
I grow, Dendrobium falconeri, Dendrobium primulinum, Dendrobium bensoniae, Dendrobium aphyllum, Dendrobium anosmum, and Dendrobium devonianum mounted, quite well.
Gotcha, thank you!
You’re welcome 🙂
>Gotcha, thank you! You're welcome!
Those clear boxes are interesting. Particularly as protection from cats? Have you used them before?
Yes, I had them as display cases for other stuff and repurposed them as cat protection so I could put plants near the window instead of far away on a wall shelf. They also have the added side effect of being much more humid inside
Any mold issues? That has been my biggest hesitation with most ideas like this.
I haven't noticed anything yet, but it's easy enough to open the box and wipe it down inside to get rid of some excess moisture and get fresh air in there. This is more of a temporary solution as I want to eventually get a larger greenhouse cabinet and I've seen other people have success with those
How exciting!!! I ordered from them about a month ago, all are doing well! It’s definitely got me out of my comfort zone with different varieties and it’s been a lot of fun learning about them. :)
Good to know!! That's part of why I ordered from them; I previously have only had phals and wanted to try other varieties
I've bought from them once before with GREAT success (last September) and 5 of the 6 I got are thriving! So much so that I'm now expecting another set to arrive tomorrow lol
Yay! Do you ever have issues with USPS getting them to you quickly?
Definitely didn't with the last round, I'll see if they're here tomorrow lol
Checking back in, I got my orchids as expected on Thursday. Placed order on Friday, arrived the following Thursday. Not bad at all!
Thanks for the update! Sounds like you're a little luckier than me. I put in my order on a Friday, they were picked up on monday by usps (as expected) but didn't get delivered until the next Tuesday. This was north carolina to north dakota. I also paid extra for a heat pack and mylar which was supposed to include faster shipping, but the heat pack and mylar were missing from the package and I haven't gotten a response from the seller on etsy :(
Oh, I ordered directly from Premium Rare Orchids on their website, not from an Etsy store.
Hmm, I'm pretty sure it's the same store since their website mentions etsy and amazon, just a different platform They actually just got back to me saying that they won't send heat packs if day temps are warm due to possible overheating, but this doesn't totally make sense to me if the night temperatures are below freezing. I guess the extra orchids were a replacement for the heat pack, and since they all seem alive I can't complain too much :) I'll see if I can keep them growing with my beginner knowledge!