Dendrobium 'Old Timer'

This Dendrobium should be called 'Easter Beauty' or something that establishes its very springy look. I have no idea what the cultivar name is, only that I have had it about 30 years. I am christening it 'Old timer'. It's been with me so long that I forgot it's origin. Perhaps it came from a southern Living Show in Charlotte when I used to live in North Carolina. That does not seem to be as important as the longevity, sturdiness, and reliability of this orchid. I have not transplanted this plant in all the years I had it . Well, I did put it in this original pot. but its been in the same pot all these years, if it can even be said to be in a pot, because clearly, it's roots are not potted but hanging out everywhere. This is probably why it's lived so long; the roots are very sensitive to being too wet, and if there is no medium surrounding the root, it's not likely to stay too wet. a couple years ago I accidentally broke off some pieces. They separate easily from the mother plant after a certain size. I laid the pieces in a clay pot , and right now they are in just as full bloom as the picture above. Since this Dendrobium is not in a potting medium, I water it nearly ever day in summer, and at other times of the year, every time I am in the greenhouse- except I give it NO water from October till I begin to see the buds emerging from the stems in January, usually. Everyone I ever told that fact to looked at me like I was lying, but this plant needs that dry time to set buds. If you can get one of these and make it happy, it will be with you for a lifetime.

Dendrobium

This is one of the numerous species of Dendrobium orchids. The flowers are quite different from others I have grown. This one does not have a name tag (except for Dendrobium), so I have grown it using as near the same culture I use on other members of the species. Dendrobiums grow best on the dry side , which is difficult to do when they are potted in straight unmilled sphagnum moss. My policy with this one has been never to deliberately water it. In the greenhouse this means that sometimes it gets accidentally sprayed so it does get water. I had intended to repot it in a better mix, but it is apparently thriving as it is blooming now after several months of this treatment.
If you purchase an orchid that is in straight unmilled sphagnum, don't water it at all til after it finishes blooming . Then repot it into some better medium. I wonder how companies that grow them deal with the watering of plants that need to be dry but are potted in something that will stay soggy wet for weeks.
Other than a quick draining potting media, the plants need lots of bright light, Fertilize when other plants are fertilized, and warmth (best 75-85 degrees F and about 10 degrees cooler at night). However they are quite tolerant and will not die if your growing situation is warmer or cooler  than this range.