Dendrobium Orchid Care & Growing Guide

Dendrobium nobile is one of the most widespread and appreciated orchids due to its abundant and long-lasting flowering as well as its relative ease of cultivation. Suitable for very bright rooms, it often appears in apartments that it furnishes with elegant simplicity.

With its long thin canes and elegant white flowers, it manages to enchant anyone. It is a very hardy variety of orchid that is quite simple to grow. Let’s see how to do it.

Dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile), characteristics

Dendrobium nobile is a perennial plant belonging to the Orchidaceae family. Originally from Southeast Asia, Dendrobium nobile is found in its natural state in India, Nepal, Laos and Thailand.

It is an epiphytic plant with a very fragile root system. Let’s see how it looks.

• Stems : about 60 cm tall, interspersed with nodes at regular distances which resemble bamboo canes
• Leaves : with an ovate-lanceolate shape, they are large, glossy and of a beautiful intense green. They are arranged in pairs along the stem nodes
• Flowers : large and very decorative, they can have different colours. However the predominant colors are white, pink and yellow. They occur singly or in clusters

When does the Dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile) bloom

Blooms in spring. When kept in a warm, bright place, commercially available hybrid plants flower well into late autumn. each floral stem develops 1 to 3 flowers.

Dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile), cultivation

Many think that Dendrobium Nobile is a very delicate and difficult plant to grow. It is certainly a very delicate species, but this does not mean it is impossible to cultivate. Just follow the next instructions to artificially recreate the ideal climatic conditions for this plant.

•  Exposure : it loves the light but not the direct rays of the sun that can burn the leaves. In summer, it is better to move it to a sheltered or shaded place.
• Climate : during the day the ideal temperature is between 18 and 29° C. at night, never drop below 10° C. After flowering and loss of leaves it should be moved to a bright and cool place with temperatures around 10° c. In fact, this sudden change in temperature will favor flowering the following spring
• Humidity : it grows well even with a humidity level around 50-55%. On the other hand, during the vegetative rest period, the air humidity must not fall below 65%.
• Soil : it prefers soft soil for orchids made up of coniferous bark, pieces of coconut fiber and sphagnum peat.
• Watering : from spring to the end of summer it should be watered abundantly and regularly. In autumn, on the other hand, watering must be scarce and rare to allow the plant to prepare for vegetative rest. In winter, watering must be suspended completely; at most, nebulisations can be carried out with demineralised water or rainwater at room temperature.
• Fertilization : every month it should be fertilized with specific fertilizers for orchids to be diluted in the water used for irrigation. The most suitable fertilizer must be equally balanced in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

How to Prune Dendrobium Nobile Orchid

Dendrobium does not require proper pruning. Only the withered flowers should be removed. The rotten or dead roots must be cut cleanly and then proceed with the repotting.

Dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile), multiplication

The multiplication of the Dendrobium takes place by seed or division of the tufts.

Multiplication by seed is quite difficult and moreover, the plants obtained in this way will be different from the mother plant due to genetic variability.

The division of the tufts, on the other hand, is much simpler. Using well sharpened and disinfected tools, separate the larger and swollen pseudobulbs from the mother head.

Each single pseudobulb, provided with a vigorous root, must therefore be repotted individually in a small container with new and fresh specific soil for orchids.

Dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile), Keiki

The peculiarity of the Dendrobium nobile is that of producing the so-called “keiki”, new seedlings which are born both on the pseudobulbs and on the floral stems after the withering of the corollas. Once large enough (at least 6 cm), the keiki can be detached and repotted in not too large pots and soil for orchids. This technique guarantees to obtain a plant equal to the mother one.

However, the appearance of keiki is not always a good sign. In fact, it indicates that the ‘mother’ plant is suffering or is now too old.

Repotting

The repotting of the Dendrobium nobile should generally be done every 2 years. Care must be taken not to damage the roots, a not too large pot should be used and specific soil for orchids should be preferred. Also pay attention to the drainage of the water to avoid water stagnation which can cause the roots to rot or cause diseases.

After repotting, suspend both irrigation and fertilization for at least 8-10 days.

The best time for repotting is at the end of winter, or just before the vegetative restart of the plant.

Since Dendrobium nobile doesn’t need much space to grow, it is also fine to use the previous container. The important thing is that it is well disinfected.

Pests and diseases

Like other varieties of orchids, Dendrobrium (Dendrobrium nobile) can be attacked by aphids and scale insects which nestle in the foliar intersections or under the underside of the leaves.

Another enemy of this orchid is the red spider mite which manifests itself with clearly visible cobwebs on the leaves. Carry out specific treatments against animal parasites only and exclusively in case of heavy infestation.

Dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile), new shoots

To have abundant blooms, it is enough to keep the plant, throughout the autumn/winter period, at a temperature not exceeding 10°C and gradually reduce watering until it is completely suspended. From time to time, nebulize the bare pipes with non-calcareous water.

Price

Hybrid dendrobiums of the noble group are easily found in many garden centers and nurseries. They are also sold by many European producers and retailers. Obviously they are also easily available online. For example, on E-bay you can find specimens starting from 8.90 euros.

Meaning

Due to its refined elegance, in the language of flowers the Dendrobium is considered a symbol of harmony and perfection.

Curiosity

Dendrobium was discovered and classified by the botanist Olof Peter Swartz in 1799. Its name comes from the Greek: ‘ dendron ‘ which means ‘tree’ and ‘ bios ‘ which means ‘life’. A clear reference to the fact that these are plants that grow and develop on the trunk and branches of other tropical plants, and to survive they absorb nutrients directly from the humidity of the environment.

Once upon a time, Dendrobium was grown to ward off misfortunes and misfortunes.