How to Grow Dendrobium speciosum the Ted Walmsley Way

Over many years I have been asked how I grow my speciosums. So I put together this little guide to explain how I grow mine.

Housing

When the plants are first deflasked they are put under 70% shade cloth where they remain until they reach the size of a 200mm (8") pot. They are then placed with the more mature plants under 50% shade cloth for the rest of their growing and flowering life.

Potting

When plants are first deflasked they are potted into 50mm (2") tubes using Mini Aus-Gro® (Van Schaik's Quality Products) Orchid Bark (10mm). The plants are left in these pots until they fill the pot. They should not be allowed to overgrow the pot.

When they fill the 50mm (2") tube, they are then repotted into a 100mm (4") pot using Medium Aus-Gro® Orchid Bark (15mm). They are left in these pots until the pot is full, but again make sure they do not overgrow the pot. If the plant is allowed to outgrow the pot then when it is repotted it does not grow as vigorously as those plants not in an overgrown state. I use standard pots (not squat pots), but crock 25-30% with styrofoam lumps.

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