Good plant, mediocre results — what went wrong with my Dendrobium

Dendrobium is clearly a great plant — I can see that from other people's results. Mine has been decent but not spectacular, and I think I know why.

I underestimated the importance of repotting into fresh bark medium every two or three years in the early stages and paid for it. crown rot from water sitting in the leaf crown also knocked the plant back at a critical point. It lives in a decorative cachepot for a formal living room which is probably not quite right but it's the best I can do in my space. pseudobulbs that store water and nutrients is visible but muted. peak bloom display through winter and spring gave me hope — there are glimpses of what it could be. Three stars for now with potential for four.