[Professor mode set to "ON"] - I don't know what put me in this mood this
morning, so please accept my apologies in advance.

I want to seize this opportunity and use John's excellent response as an
example of how new orchid growers (and experienced ones - I cannot tell you
how many times I ignore my own advice.) can get in trouble. This has
nothing to do with growing this plant or John's advice.

John correctly stated in the first paragraph that "This is an easy cool
growing Australian which is almost impossible to kill."

Where folks get in trouble is by focusing on the last phrase, and ignoring
the first part, not to mention the details John offered later. In this
case, I am trying to stress that what folks miss is that "this [plant] is an
easy cool growing Australian which is almost impossible to kill"...IF you
have cool growing conditions! Growing it warmer, say along side of the
phals a lot of new orchid growers often have, will not be so easy.

Everyone should be aware of what growing conditions they have and can easily
maintain, and to pay attention to the needs of the plants they desire. Just
because a plant is "easy" for one doesn't mean it's easy for all. I'm
approaching the 40-year mark of orchid growing, and I still struggle with
some dendrobiums that others feel are like weeds.

[Professor mode now set to "OFF", if nothing more than to keep my wife from
rolling her eyes every time we converse today.]

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"John Varigos" wrote in message
om...
Hi Steffie

This is an easy cool growing Australian which is almost impossible to
kill. It is quick growing (for an orchid) and readily forms specimen sized
plants.

I grow it in an open mix of 50:50 medium bark and perlite. It is grown
outside all year round, protected by 50% shade cloth in summer to avoid
sunburn (Australian summer sun is very intense). In winter we get down to
about 3-4°C (approx 40°F) which doesn't seem to affect the plant but it
doesn't like to be frozen! The secret to success is to keep it on the dry
side during winter but lots of bright light and plenty of fresh air. It
is not a glasshouse plant. I water it every one or two days during summer
when the new growths are forming.

Rewards with heaps of delightful white/pink flowers (typically 10 to 30
flowers per raceme) in spring.

Hope this helps

Cheers

John
--
John Varigos
Melbourne, Australia
__________________________________________
To email me remove "usenet." from my email address.



"wshl7" wrote in message
ll.nl...
Hello evreybody

Some weeks ago I bought this Dendrobium delicatum en so I am trying hard
to find out what is the right way to grow this plant. Of course I found
heaps of information about Dendrobiums on the internet and a.o. I learned
that there are three groups of dendrobiums, which grow resp. onder hot,
intermediate or cold conditions. What I did not found is to which group
my plant belongs. As there anybody out there who can help me?

Steffie