Dendrobium represents a genus with high diversity, which is reflected in its environmental requirements and, consequently, in the conditions necessary to ensure successful cultivation..
A common aspect of Dendrobium species is the initial growth period followed by a rest period during the year, with irrigation schedules 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 leaves that persist 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. Cultivating this genus requires 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. The required light is moderate. Watering and fertilization should be reduced after growth completion. If a short rest period of 3–4 weeks is provided, with lower temperatures around 10 ℃ and watering stopped, followed by a return to the normal routine with abundant watering and fertilization and minimum temperatures of 15–16 ℃, the maturation of new growths will be observed, followed by 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 leaves that persist for several years, being large, vigorous plants with long-lasting flowers that bloom in summer or multiple 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 minimum night temperatures of 16–18 ℃ and daytime temperatures of 25–30 ℃. They do not require a dormancy period, but a slightly lower temperature can be provided during winter. Light intensity should be moderate to high.
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The Dendrobium group includes species with a pendent or pendulous habit, with leaves arranged along the entire length of the long, vigorous pseudobulbs that have a reed-like appearance and 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 abundant heat, light, watering, and fertilization throughout the growing season until the appearance of terminal leaves inserted apically on the pseudobulbs. At this point, the light intensity should be maintained, but watering and fertilization should be reduced to complete cessation, and the night 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 winter night temperatures, which can drop to 12 – 13 ℃. These are deciduous species, for which it is recommended to completely stop watering during the winter period.
- The Callista Group includes species with pseudobulbs similar to those found in most orchids, meaning they do not have a reed-like appearance and form 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 drop to a minimum of 12℃ at night, with moderate lighting, cessation of fertilization, and reduced 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 should 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 between 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, using the environmental values of the original sections as references, but in this case, observing the condition of the plants will be the main decision factor. Accessories for Dendrobium orchids such as substrate, plastic pots, treatments (insecticide, acaricide, fungicide), fertilizer, can be found here.
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