Plant Type: Orchid.
Description: Dendrobium (Dendrobium anosmum). the genus Dendrobium has a large number of orchids, each of which has a peculiar appearance and a different flowering time. Their total number is over a thousand. There are annual and perennial species. Most orchids are epiphytic, meaning they grow on other species but do not parasitize them. Previously, dendrobiums belonged to exotic flowers and were very expensive, but in recent years the price for them has become affordable. Dendrobium in Greek means “growing on a tree.”
- Origin: Philippines, New Guinea, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia.
- Growing environment: greenhouse or home conditions.
- Leaf ornament: absent.
- Flowering: present. The peak of flowering occurs in the spring.
- Aroma: present.
- Care: No special care is required.
Temperature regime: Dendrobium refers to a variable temperature regime. Temperatures can reach 30°C or more in summer and 10 to 16°C in winter. If you grow a flower at home, then it is desirable that the temperature at night be at least 5 ° C lower than during the day.
Humidity level: high. Humidity can be in the range from 60 to 80%. In the process of caring for the dendrobium, the following rule must be taken into account: the higher the air temperature, the higher its humidity should be, and the higher the humidity, the longer and more often it is necessary to ventilate the room where the orchid is grown. If this rule is violated, then there is a possibility of the appearance of various fungi and decay on the foliage.
Lighting: The best lighting is indirect sunlight coming from the South/West. During the midday solstice, the orchid should be placed under the shade of other plants or behind a curtain.
Large Dendrobium in the photo
Substrate: Due to the impressive size of the dendrobium, it must be kept in pots, but planting on blocks is not ruled out. As a substrate, you can use pieces of medium-sized coniferous trees.
Soil Type: Special commercial orchid mix. The pot used should always have a hole.
Watering: Water the dendrobium and wait until the soil is moderately dry before the next watering. Use warm water. In the process of new growth, the plant needs abundant and frequent watering. Excess water must flow out of the pot, as having too much water both in the bottom of the pot and inside can cause the roots and bottom of the flower to rot. It is also recommended to water the plant using a hot shower, which will help to simulate the natural conditions in the homeland of the orchid, so that the flower will develop and grow more intensively.
Reproduction: carried out by dividing the bush, air offspring and stem cuttings.
Dormant Period: In order to encourage Dendrobium flowering, it is necessary to create a well-defined dormant period that begins immediately after the new pseudobulbs have matured. The dormant period lies in the fact that the dendrobium is kept much colder and drier than usual, and is not fed. The temperature should not exceed 10-16°C. Watering is replaced by light spraying of the substrate, and this procedure is carried out no more than once every two to three weeks. During this period, the plant sheds foliage. When flower stalks appear, the dormant period ends: watering resumes in the same volume, and the temperature of the content rises. If you do not observe the dormant period, then the orchid may stop blooming.
Pests: There is a tendency to mealy worms , spider mites (in dry air), scale insects and pemphigus . With constant dampness, the formation of fungi is possible.
Fertilization: During new growth, fertilize the dendrobium once every two to three weeks, using the usual concentration of fertilizer, which is indicated on the package. It is necessary to use only specialized top dressing marked “For orchids” , since standard fertilizers have a different composition of useful additives and their dosage is higher than necessary for this species.
Transplantation: It is best to transplant the dendrobium at a time when new shoots reach five centimeters and begin to form their own roots.
Care tips and tricks: Avoid direct sunlight. Place pebbles or gravel in a gutter saucer to retain water and increase moisture, but make sure the pot is directly in the gravel and not in water and always use a pot with a drain hole. From mid-May to mid-September, the dendrobium should be placed outdoors, in the garden or on the balcony. The selected location must be protected from strong winds and rain.