Jun 07 2009
Dendrobium orchid care
The dendrobium orchids represent a major type with about 1200 species, they grow in regions between the southern, eastern and south-east Asia, including the Philippines, Borneo, Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. Their name comes from the Greek words dendron (tree) and bios (life). These species are epiphytes (grow on trees) or lithophytes (grow on rocks) and grow in environments ranging from the heights of the Himalayas, low tropical forests, and even in the dry Australian desert.
dendrobium orchid care is relatively an easy task.In fact you can get very good results with little attention with dendrobium orchids. To bear flowers, Most dendrobiums don’t depend upon much attention from their growers.
Below you’ll find some tips on dendrobium orchid care.
Temperature: The most favourable day temperature is 23-29 ° C, while the night temperature is 15-18 ° C. Your dendrobium orchid can stand extreme temperatures if exposure is not prolonged.
Light: The only time an orchid should not be exposed to direct light is during their growing season (March-September). During this season, the sun is too strong and could dry out the leaves.
Dendrobiums take full advantage of full sunlight in the morning, but they ask for the shade between 11 am and 15H – less Shadow will be needed at the end of afternoon.
Watering: The Phalaenopsis dendrobium Orchids grow best when their soil becomes dry between waterings. They are epiphytes in nature, (they grow on trees) and are habituated to becoming fairly dry between the rains of their natural home ground.
Generally watering is the most difficultoperation.Very often, the plant receives too much water. The roots of the orchid should NEVER float in water. Holes are made in the bottom of the container to evacuate excess water. If the orchid is placed in a flower-pot holder, water will remain in the pot and the roots may rot.
Our advice:
Take out the orchid from its flower-pot holder (leaving the plant in its original pot), float the plant in a tray filled with water for 5 to 10 minutes (at a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees).Then let the flower drain and put it back in its flower-pot holder.Proceeding this way you will never give too much water to your plant.
There should not be too much water in the tray.
Only a maximum of 3/4 of the pot can be placed in water.
Depending on your home (temperature and humidity) and the weather (too much or too little sunlight) you have to bathe your plant 1x per week.You can decide on your orchid watering needs by monitoring its weight. It is just a matter of getting used to!
Repotting: Repot once every two years in spring, after blooming, or when growth begins. A mixture of 10 parts of fine quality fir bark and 1 part of orchid mix will work well in small pots.
Feeding: nitrogen fertilizer (25-9-9) can be used throughout the year. Use a teaspoon for three liters of water. Feed once a month.
