Dendrobium orchid care
Most people associate orchids with the genus Phalaenopsis, meanwhile there are many other beautiful orchids. Dendrobium is one of the more diverse groups of orchids. The flowers of these plants are as delightful as those of Phalaenopsis. It is worth having at least one specimen of Dendrobium in your collection because these orchids are really beautiful and their care is not at all burdensome. Here are the secrets to Dendrobium orchid care and grow.
Occurrence
Dendrobium orchids are found throughout South Asia, including islands. They live at almost all altitudes above sea level, in sunny or shaded, wet or dry positions. For this reason, when deciding to grow Dendrobium at home, you need to know exactly which species or variety to buy and what its requirements are. Without it, proper care of Dendrobium can prove very difficult.
Characteristic
Dendrobium is one of the largest and most diverse groups of orchids. Plants can be a few millimeters or 2 meters in size. The flowers are also very diverse, from quite small to over 12 cm. Dendrobiums can have fragrant or odorless flowers, the inflorescences can be branched or single, they can bloom for a short time or over a month.
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Dendrobium orchids are characterized by sympodial growth. This means that they have a certain growth rhythm. When the growing season ends, the plant sprouts a new shoot, if the climatic conditions are favorable (rainy season) the shoot lengthens, i.e. the plant develops.
After the end of the growth period, the plant produces the so-called pseudobulbs, which are the spore-storage organs. Thanks to pseudobulbs, the plant accumulates supplies for the upcoming dormant period. Shoots and pseudobulbs grow from the rhizome, from which also grow roots, clustered at the base.
Dendrobium care
Dendrobium orchids have similar substrate requirements to Phalaenopsis orchids. The only difference between these two types is the root system, which in Dendrobium is softer and more dense, which makes the plant more sensitive to long droughts than Phalaenopsis.
Most dendrobiums develop with a set rhythm. Therefore, in spring and summer, it is necessary to fertilize and water orchids from this group. However, in autumn and winter, the dose of fertilizer should be reduced and watering of Dendrobium should be slightly limited. However, the dormancy period should not be emphasized too much by reducing the temperature, unless the specific species of Dendrobium just requires it.
Dendrobium – species and varieties
Antelope dendrobium
Orchids from this group got their name after the characteristic twisted and upward perianth leaves that resemble antelope horns. Plants in this group can reach really large sizes. 1.2 m long pseudobulbs are not uncommon, they sprout from rhizomes every 2-5 cm.
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Each pseudobulb produces 3-5 inflorescences, so as you can see, orchids can be really impressive. The flowers are usually yellow, red-brown or bluish in color, and there are often multicolor flowers.
Dendrobium antelopes require a bright and warm position. Although from the south position they should stay away from direct sun. These orchids need to be transplanted every 2 years. Due to the size of the plants, it is worth loading the bottom of the pot with stones, which makes the orchid more stable.
Be careful of “miniature” varieties, which are often miniature in name only and are small only at an early stage of development. Good care of this orchid often causes the miniature to grow a specimen of 80 cm.
Attention! Retail dendrobiums are often direct import from Tunisia or Malaysia, quickly transplanted into small pots, and placed on regiments before taking root. Therefore, you need to be careful about various promotions for these orchids. It may happen that after purchasing such a specimen, its further life will be very short.
Thai dendrobium
Thai dendrobium is a hybrid of the genus Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis. These types of orchids selling mainly as cut flowers, but recently they have also proven themselves as pot plants. Their care requirements are similar to those of Antelope Dendrobium, but they bloom shorter than them. Before buying them, you should also consider whether these plants have a chance to survive on our windowsill.
Dendrobium Biggibum
This type of Dendrobium come from Australia. That is, from the extreme climatic zone. Where the rainy season is mixing with dry periods. These orchids have small pseudobulbs and fleshy leaves, each pseudobulb grows several inflorescence shoots. The flowers usually bloom from 4 to 8 weeks, are usually pink to dark pink, although the last are also white varieties.
This type of dendrobium does not tolerate a compact substrate, it is also worth watering them frequently, but remember that the plant should drain excess water. They withstand a large amount of light well and have no specific temperature requirements. It is best to keep them in a bright and warm room.
Dendrobium nobile
This group of orchids is derived from the species Dendrobium nobile. This species occurs naturally on the eastern slopes of the Himalayas at an altitude of 1000-2000 m above sea level, where it prefers shaded sites.
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Due to numerous crosses, many hybrids of these orchids were obtained. They characteristic pseudobulbs 30-60 cm in size, which have spirally arranged leaves. The flowers grow in bunches and can almost completely cover the entire pseudobulb.
Dendrobium nobile flowers are mostly white, yellow to dark purple in color. The throat, on the other hand, is usually of a different color which gives a fantastic contrast.
These orchids prefer windows facing east or west. It is very important to preserve the life cycle of these plants. Therefore, during the growth period, it is necessary to remember about fertilizing. While during the rest period, the temperature of these orchids must be lower, which is necessary to initiate the generative phase, i.e. flowering.
Attention! In order for it to bloom, Dendrobium nobile needs a cooling-down period – a temperature drop to 10-12 ° C is necessary. To achieve this, you can put it on a balcony or terrace during the autumn cooling down.
The resting phase lasts from 4 to 8 weeks, during this time you should also limit watering (about 1 glass of water per week). When lumps start to appear in front of the leaves, which start to crack in some places, you can move the plant again to a warmer room. However, it cannot be too early as it can cause suckers to grow out of the bulges and not inflorescences.
Good to know! As a result of numerous crosses, the Dendrobium nobile variety called ‘Stardust’ was obtained, which does not require a rest period and blooms reliably. This variety can also grow in hanging containers after flowering!
Dendrobium Formosa
Unfortunately, orchids from this group have still not commercially popular. Therefore, this type of Dendrobium is rare. Their flowers are always white with a bright orange or red lip. The size of the flowers varies from 5 to 12 cm. They can bloom for up to three months!
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Formosa are thermophilic, prefer locations from the east and west. They require much less light than other Dendrobiums, they like an airy substrate and prefer sparing fertilization. When watering, remember that the plant can dry quickly.
Dendrobium Callista
Orchids of this group are characterized by long dangling inflorescences. In nature, they grow in Thailand, where they grow at an altitude of approx. 500 m above sea level. This type of Dendrobium only blooms for 14 days, but by lowering the temperature overnight or introducing a dormant period, it can flower several times a year.
The room temperature should never drop below 14 ° C and flowering starts at 20 ° C. When new shoots grow out of the pseudobulb, you can water them a little more. Due to the beautiful dangling inflorescences during flowering, it is worth placing the plant on a platform.
