Dendrobium represents a genus with high diversity, which is implicitly reflected in environmental requirements and also in the conditions necessary to ensure successful cultivation.
A common aspect of the Dendrobium genus species is the initial passage through a growth period followed by a rest period during the year, with irrigation schemes and temperature values varying according to the period. Flowers last from one day, in exceptional cases, up to several weeks, depending on the species. Due to the great diversity within the genus regarding growth parameters, the following functional categories have been identified within the Dendrobium genus:
- The Phalaenanthe group includes species with persistent foliage for several years, slender and tall pseudobulbs, terminal inflorescences, and generally bloom in the autumn season, or possibly twice a year depending on the cultivar. This category includes species such as Dendrobium affine, bigibbum (commercially known mainly as Dendrobium phalaenopsis), dicuphum, and williamsianum. Cultivation of this genus involves high temperatures throughout the year, about 25 ℃ during the day and 15 ℃ at night, with abundant watering and fertilization during the growth period, when new root development is notable. Required light is moderate. Watering and fertilization should be reduced after growth completion. In cases where a short rest period of 3 – 4 weeks is provided, with lower temperatures around 10 ℃ and cessation of watering, followed by a return to the normal routine with abundant watering and fertilization and minimum temperatures of 15 – 16 ℃, maturation of new growths will be observed, followed by their flowering during winter and spring. In terms of general cultivation type, they are approximately identical to Phalaenopsis species, except for the rest period. It is noteworthy that under too low temperatures and dry periods, the leaves of these Dendrobium species will fall.
- The Spatulata group species also have persistent leaves for several years, being large, vigorous plants with flowers that last for long periods, blooming in summer or several times a year. This group includes taxa such as antennatum, canaliculatum, discolor, gouldii, johannis, lineale (veratrifolium), stratiotes, strebloceras, and taurinum. The cultivation temperature for these species and their hybrids should be uniform throughout the year, with a minimum night temperature of 16 – 18 ℃ and day temperatures of 25 – 30 ℃. They do not require a rest period, but a slightly lower temperature can be provided during winter. Light intensity should be moderate to high.
Dendrobium, rare varieties - you can purchase them here!(link)
The Dendrobium Group includes species with a pendent or pendulous habit, with leaves arranged along the entire length of long, vigorous pseudobulbs, reed-like in appearance, which tend to fall off with the onset of the cold and dry season. They have one to five flowers per node, usually emerging on leafless pseudobulbs from winter to early spring.
Within this group, several subgroups are distinguished:
- Species such as Dendrobium chrysanthum, friedricksianum, nobile and wardianum. During the summer period, they require heat, light, abundant watering, and fertilization throughout the growing season until the appearance of terminal leaves inserted apically on the pseudobulbs. At this point, the light intensity level should be maintained, but watering and fertilization should be reduced to complete cessation, and nighttime temperature lowered to 10 ℃. In other words, the best advice for growers during this period is to forget about the plants, ignoring them until flowering.
- Species such as Dendrobium anosmum (superbum), crassinode, falconeri, fimbriatum, findlayanum, heterocarpum (aureum), loddigesii, moniliforme, parishii, primulinus, transparens. The culture is similar to that of species in subgroup 1, except for the nighttime winter temperatures, which can drop to 12 – 13 ℃. These are deciduous species, for which complete cessation of watering during winter is recommended.
- The Callista Group includes species with pseudobulbs similar to those present in most orchids, meaning not reed-like, forming pendulous inflorescences. Among these species, the most representative taxa are dendrobium aggregatum (lindleyi), chrysotoxum, densiflorum, farmeri and thyrsiflorum. During summer, temperatures should range between 15 – 25 ℃, with moderate lighting, watering, and fertilization. For the winter period, temperatures should be low, at a minimum of 12℃ at night, with moderate lighting, stopping fertilization, and reducing watering to a minimum, just enough to prevent wrinkling and dehydration of the pseudobulbs.
- The Latouria Group includes species similar to Dendrobium atroviolaceum, macrophyllum and spectabile, having moderately sized pseudobulbs with a leathery texture, erect inflorescences, generally yellow-green in color. They are cultivated identically to the Spatulata group, but require lower temperatures and reduced humidity during the winter rest period.
- The Formosae group (section Nigrohirsutae), with species that have pseudobulbs resembling reeds, with black hairs on the leaf sheaths and pseudobulbs, clearly visible, bearing generally white flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, grouped 2 – 3 towards the apical area of the pseudobulbs, which persist for a long time. Representative species for this group are Dendrobium bellatulum, dearii, draconis, formosum, infundibulum, iowii, lyonii, margaritaceum, sanderae, schuetzii. Cultivating these taxa involves low temperatures throughout the year, between 12 and 15 ℃ at night and a maximum of 29 ℃ during the day, moderate watering and fertilizing during the growth period, followed by a short rest period without watering at the end of the vegetative development season. The substrate will be kept slightly moist to dry until the start of the next growth season.
- Species that do not fit into any of the previous groups in terms of environmental requirements, generally similar to Dendrobium linguiforme, tetragonum, gracillimum and cuthbertsonii (sophronitis), are strongly dependent on the environmental conditions of their native range, as a general rule, a temperature belonging to the range of 12 – 20 ℃ at night can be suggested, with a rest period represented by stopping irrigation during winter or when active growth cessation is observed.
For the cultivation of hybrids between taxa belonging to different groups, it is recommended to ensure average conditions, taking as references the environmental values for the origin sections, but in this case observing the condition of the plants will be the main decision factor. Accessories for the Dendrobium orchid such as substrate, plastic pots, treatments (insecticide, acaricide, fungicide), fertilizer, can be found here.
Do you want to see more articles and accumulate more knowledge? This article is offered for free, but you can support secretgarden.ro with a review here:
Google: Review on Google
Facebook: Review on Facebook