Secrets to caring for a Dendrobium orchid at home

Dendrobium is a species of orchid, classified as a perennial. The plants appear as small bushes, but since they come in many varieties, they can vary greatly in appearance. Orchids even vary in height—from a few centimeters for dwarf varieties to a meter or more for giant ones. Indoor gardeners prefer to grow shorter varieties.

Description

The orchid's root system plays vital roles in its life: maintaining soil stability and absorbing nutrients and fluids. The plant has straight, glossy, iridescent stems that are thicker at the base. Green leaves are located at the top of the stems. They vary in shape depending on the variety.

Dendrobium flowers vary in shape and color. The buds closely cover the orchid stems and have a strong fragrance. They appear in the second year of growth. Different varieties have inflorescences with one to three flowers, and the buds can reach up to 10 centimeters in size.

Plants bloom twice a year, and some only once every 24 months. Store-bought flowers typically don't require much care at home and initially bloom beautifully and look good. However, without care, they won't bloom and may eventually die.

Varieties

There are many varieties of Dendrobiums. The most undemanding ones are grown:

1. Dendrobium Nobile. This species is considered the most beautiful and easy to care for. The plant grows up to 90 cm in height. The stems are erect. Initially, they stand upright and have a glossy sheen, but later they can droop. The leaflets are oblong and grow on both sides of the stem. Each peduncle produces 3 or 4 flowers up to 10 centimeters in size. The flowers appear in the second year of the shoot's life. They are whitish at the base, with pink or lilac edges. The plant blooms from January to May. Occasionally, this orchid species fails to produce buds during a single flowering season, despite routine care.
2. Dendrobium lindleyi. It has short stems, no more than 8 cm tall. It is golden-yellow in color and has an attractive scent.
3. Kinga. A small orchid with stems tapering toward the top, reaching a height of 25 to 45 cm. Each stem bears leaves. The inflorescence consists of 3-6 small flowers (1-3 cm) that grow at the crown. The color ranges from off-white to vibrant purple. The buds appear throughout February. The aroma is reminiscent of vanilla.
4. Dendrobium PhalaenopsisA fairly large orchid with long, straight stems. Leaves and flowers are located at the top of the stems. The flowers are quite large, up to 9 cm in size, with up to 40 flowers in each inflorescence. Flower colors range from milky white to purple, red, and violet in all shades. The orchid blooms for two months (from November to January). Cut flowers last quite a long time in a vase when fresh, so florists use them for decoration at weddings and other events.
5. Dendrobium Berry Oda. A hybrid variety of Dendrobium kingii, the Dendrobium Berry Oda produces flowers ranging in color from white with a slight pink tint to deep crimson. It begins blooming at the end of the winter months and stops blooming in June. It is very undemanding in terms of care and cultivation, easily adapting to its surroundings. This orchid tolerates high temperatures (up to 32 degrees Celsius), provided it has the right humidity.

Conditions of maintenance and care

Before flowering, reduce watering and avoid fertilizing. During this time, it's a good idea to shower with water at a temperature of 34-41 degrees Celsius. Then, remove any water from the leaf axils. This not only helps clean the leaves but also improves other beneficial processes. When the flowers begin to swell, resume watering and fertilizing.

Humidity and watering

Dendrobium orchids thrive in humid air (at least 40%-50%). Hot and dry conditions inhibit plant growth. Higher humidity is better. To increase humidity, it's advisable to place damp stones or moss on the bottom of the pot, but avoid adding water to the tray to prevent root rot.

To increase humidity, mist the plant with a spray bottle. This is especially necessary during hot summer months and with the onset of the heating season.

Soil and fertilizer

It's best to buy specialized soil for orchids. It's also a good idea to add a little peat to the soil. These conditions not only promote nutrient absorption, but also help the rhizomes anchor and breathe better.

Dendrobiums don't like frequent repotting, as they don't tolerate changes in environment and growing conditions very well. Don't rush to repot the orchid after purchase. It's best to wait at least six months. The next time you need to repot it is after 3-4 years. The plant thrives in a pot that's a bit too small.

Dendrobiums only need repotting in rare situations. This is best done after flowering has finished. If the roots are growing out and the pot has become too small, or if rot has appeared, repot the plant in a different potting mix, after removing any damaged parts of the rhizome.

These orchids require constant feeding. Only liquid solutions should be used for soil fertilization. These can be poured into a tray or a spray bottle. Avoid adding nitrogen-containing fertilizers, as this will encourage the formation of numerous sprouts. In this case, all the nutrients are used for their growth, and flowering may not occur. Therefore, when the sprouts reach half their size, use fertilizers containing more phosphates than nitrogen. Tableted or granular fertilizers are not recommended, as they lead to orchid diseases or death.

Root and leaf care

Orchids don't like direct sunlight. To avoid sunburn on their leaves, it's best to spray them early in the morning.

If wet spots appear on the leaves, it's clear that rotting has begun. This could be due to low room temperatures. It's best not to spray the orchid if the room temperature is below 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit). After showering, be sure to blot the leaf axils, as stagnant water in these areas can cause rotting.

It's common for orchid leaves to curl. Causes:

• the ambient temperature has increased significantly;
• over-fertilization occurred;
• too much moisture;
• the air in the room is too dry;
• there are temperature fluctuations.

Dendrobium leaves curl without any particular reason, but they can due to illness.

This type of rot usually spreads from the roots to the leaves. To prevent this, repot the plant immediately. Carefully remove it from the potting mix. Then remove all rotted parts of the rhizome and leaves, and coat the cut surfaces with activated charcoal. Allow the plant to air dry for two hours.

Reproduction

Dendrobiums can be propagated in several ways. The easiest way is by using offshoots. When a pseudobulb doesn't bloom but produces a shoot, allow it to grow a little. Then cut it off with a sharp, clean tool. To allow the wound to heal, leave the cut shoot exposed to air for two hours. Then treat the cut with activated charcoal and plant it in slightly damp soil. It's a good idea to cover the pot with a plastic bag (to create a greenhouse effect).

Another simple way is – propagation by cuttingsCut the cutting into three or four pieces and coat the wounds with activated charcoal. Then, select a container and fill it with moss, which will serve as a substrate. Place the cuttings in the container and cover it to create a greenhouse effect. Roots will appear in three weeks, and after a while, the offshoots will emerge. When the roots reach 6 cm, repot them into pots with a special substrate designed for orchids.

Dividing an adult plant is a slightly more difficult method of propagation. Only a healthy orchid with a good number of shoots is suitable for this method. Treat all cuts with activated charcoal. The divided cuttings should be left for 24 hours in a slightly dark, well-ventilated area. Now repot the plant in a pot with soil and care for it as usual.

Of course, the orchid is a capricious plant, but its spectacularity and beauty are worth all the effort and trouble.