How do you take care of a Dendrobium orchid?
Since Dendrobiums are often large plants in small pots, they should be watered relatively frequently, sometimes as much as twice a week. Your plant should be almost dry before watering, though. Seasonally, water Dendrobiums less in the fall and winter, and gradually more as temperatures rise in the spring and summer. POTTING Dendrobiums must be properly potted, with close attention to type of medium (fine to medium textured, excellent drainage — fir bark is excellent) and pot size (small compared to plant size). They will benefit from being pot-bound and, in general, do not like being disturbed.Give your dendrobium plenty of light, water, fertiliser and humidity. Keep it out of draughts and away from heating vents, and place it so it gets at least six hours of light a day. Because it doesn’t naturally grow in soil, plant your dendrobium in a good-quality, free-draining orchid potting mix.The ideal time to repot a Dendrobium is in spring a couple of weeks after you notice the roots beginning to grow again. Repotting must not be done during the rest period. Use bark when repotting with as small of a pot as possible.Soil is a key component to keeping your dendrobium orchid happy. Like many orchids, dendrobiums grow on the sides of trees and other bark material in the wild.Division When a dendrobium orchid becomes bushy and unmanageable, you can divide it by cutting in the rhizome and seperate carefully with atleast three canes on each division.
Is the Dendrobium orchid an indoor plant?
Yes, dendrobiums can be grown successfully indoors if they receive bright, indirect light and warm temperatures. Give your dendrobium plenty of light, water, fertiliser and humidity. Keep it out of draughts and away from heating vents, and place it so it gets at least six hours of light a day. Because it doesn’t naturally grow in soil, plant your dendrobium in a good-quality, free-draining orchid potting mix.Since Dendrobiums are often large plants in small pots, they should be watered relatively frequently, sometimes as much as twice a week. Your plant should be almost dry before watering, though. Seasonally, water Dendrobiums less in the fall and winter, and gradually more as temperatures rise in the spring and summer.Many dendrobiums go through a winter dormant time. Use a water-retentive potting mix. A medium-grade fir bark with peat moss and perlite is a common orchid mixture.Most houseplant orchids like bright light, but not direct sun, such as on a north- or east-facing windowsill. They like regular watering and misting, preferably with rainwater or boiled water rather than tap water.
Do Dendrobium orchids like sun or shade?
Dendrobium orchids thrive in bright, indirect light. The best place to display your Dendrobium orchid is near a window with filtered sunlight. While Dendrobiums can tolerate the soft morning sun, avoid exposure to the intense, hot afternoon sun. Avoid over watering as this can lead to root rot. Position your orchid in a bright windowsill facing east or west. Weekly feeding with a fertilizer designed for orchids.The colour of the roots is the best indication for determining whether your orchid has sufficient moisture. If the roots are a healthy green colour, your orchid is sufficiently watered and doesn’t need any more water at this time. If the roots are greyish-white, your orchid isn’t receiving enough water.Vanda orchids often have thick, strong roots, which means they can also do well in water. Some types of Dendrobium orchids can also be grown in water, especially those with thick roots.By far the best way to water evergreen orchids is to place them in a sink or other container of lukewarm water which comes up to the top of their pots. Because they are not growing in densely packed soil or compost, the water will easily rise up from the bottom of the pots and saturate the roots.
What to do with a Dendrobium orchid after flowering?
After the flowers fade, clip them off where they join the canes but don’t cut off old canes, as they store nutrients and water to keep the orchid healthy. Clipping this stem off does not promote reblooming, as is the case with other types of orchids. When time is up, remove the plant and let it drain out before placing it back in its decorative pot. Hewitt notes that watering orchids with tap water is fine, but if your tap water quality is less than ideal, you may want to use bottled water.In the fall, begin to taper off watering. The orchid will stop making new leaves and in late fall (about mid-November), reduce water further so that you provide little to no water for a period of 2 to 3 months. Water only to keep the cane and pseudobulb from shriveling.A happy, healthy orchid will usually rebloom every 8 to 12 months but some will flower again in the same season (tips coming up below for how to get your orchid to bloom again right away).They can peacefully grow even in a small pot, but if the orchid seems to have outgrown the pot and there is no space left for new growth to emerge, then it is time to repot. Repotting should be done after flowering is over and the next growing season is about to start.
How often should I water my Dendrobium orchid?
Watering. These orchids enjoy drying slightly between waterings, allowing the media to become lightly damp before watering again. While Dendrobium are capable of tolerating bone dry conditions, this will result in cane shriveling if turned into a habit. Care Tips for Dendrobium Orchids Temperature: Ideal temperature range: 60-80°F (16-27°C). Cooler temps at night help trigger blooming. Watering: Water once a week during the growing season, and reduce watering in the winter during the resting period. Humidity: Maintain humidity levels around 40-60%.My orchid has finished blooming – now what? Dendrobiums have tall pseudobulbs which remain year after year, and provide the plant with energy even when it is not blooming. They are frequently called canes, and do not get cut. The thin stems which come out of these canes can get cut after the flowers finish blooming.These orchids can be divided as long as they have at least seven or eight canes. Dividing a plant with less may stunt the growth of each division. The best type of pot to use for a dendrobium orchid is a clay pot because water evaporates from clay pots faster.Dendrobiums (Dens for short) are a very desirable orchid type to have here in Florida. They are very easy to grow, many bloom twice a year, and their flowers often last for months. Some varieties are mature plants at 3 inches tall while others are over 3 feet tall.