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Dendrobium
Dendrobium
is a diverse genus of
orchids with different cultural
needs. Many go through a growth
phase and then a rest phase
during the course of one year,
and must be given water and
temperature to match these
periods of growth and rest.
Flowers can last one day to many
weeks, depending on the type.
Owing to the extreme diversity
of the genus, we have
categorized culture according to
the following main types:
Phalaenanthe
Evergreen for several years,
with thin, tall pseudobulbs,
terminal inflorescences, usually
appearing in the autumn or twice
a year (see culture).
Species such as Den. affine,
Den. bigibbum (phalaenopsis),
Den. dicuphum and Den.
williamsianum.
Culture Grow
warm year round (see below); 60
F nights; water and fertilize
heavily when roots appear from
new growth; medium light; reduce
water and fertilizer after
growth finishes. If a short
(three- to four-week), cooler
(55 F) dry rest is given, and
then plants are warmed again (60
F minimum), another growth may
mature during winter and flower
in the spring. Treat this
growth as a summer growth
cycle. These grow well with
phalaenopsis, except for the
rest period. Plants will go
deciduous if grown too cool and
dry.
Spatulata (Antelope Type)
Evergreen for several years.
Most are large, vigorous plants
with long-lasting flowers in
summer to several times a year.
Species such as Den.
antennatum, Den. canaliculatum,
Den. discolor, Den. gouldii,
Den. johannis, Den. lineale (veratrifolium),
Den. stratiotes, Den.
strebloceras and Den.
taurinum.
Culture Warm
all year (60 to 65 F nights, 75
to 90 F days); no rest period;
can be kept cooler in winter if
dry; medium to high light.
Dendrobium
Most
of the plants are pendulous,
with leaves all along the canes
that most often drop with onset
of cooler, drier weather. One
to five flowers per node are
borne from the nodes of the
leafless canes in midwinter
through early spring.
Group 1
Species such as Den.
chrysanthum, Den.
friedricksianum, Den. nobile
and Den. wardianum.
Culture Growth
period in summer; give warmth,
water and fertilize heavily from
when roots appear until top leaf
appears on canes. Then give
high light, little or no water,
no fertilizer, cool nights (40
to 50 F). In other words,
forget about them.
Group 2
Species such as Den. anosmum
(superbum), Den. crassinode,
Den. falconeri, Den. fimbriatum,
Den. findlayanum, Den.
heterocarpum (aureum), Den.
parishii, Den. primulinus
and Den. transparens.
Culture Same
as group 1, but winter nights 55
F. Deciduous species need
virtually no water in winter.
Callista
Most
are pseudobulbous plants with
pendent inflorescences.
Species such as Den.
aggregatum (now properly
lindleyi), Den. chrysotoxum,
Den. densiflorum, Den. farmeri
and Den. thrysiflorum.
Culture Summer
give warmth (60 to 90 F), medium
light, medium quantities of
water and fertilizer. Winter
keep cool (50 F nights), medium
light, just enough water to keep
pseudobulbs from shriveling, no
fertilizer.
Latouria
Leaves at top of pseudobulbs are
large and leathery,
inflorescence erect, flowers
commonly yellow-green.
Species such as Den.
atroviolaceum, Den. macrophyllum
and Den. spectabile.
Culture Same
as antelope types, but cooler
and drier when resting in
winter.
Formosae (Nigrohirsutae Type)
Canelike pseudobulbs, with black
hairs on leaf sheaths and
pseudobulbs often apparent,
leading to the popular name
nigrohirsutae. Flowers usually
white, up to 4 inches across,
two to three together from near
the end of the pseudobulb. Long
lasting.
Species such as Den.
bellatulum, Den. dearii, Den.
draconis, Den. formosum, Den.
infundibulum, Den. lowii, Den.
lyonii, Den. margaritaceum, Den.
sanderae and Den.
schuetzii.
Culture
Intermediate to cool year round,
50 to 60 F nights, maximum 85 F
days. Water and fertilize when
growing; give a slight short
rest (dry) when growth is
completed. Keep barely moist
until growth starts again.
Other Species
Among the popluar types are
Den. linguiforme, Den.
tetragonum, Den gracillimum
and Den. cuthbertsonii (sophronitis).
Culture
Depends on the plant's native
environment. It is generally
safe to grow them intermediate
to warm (55 to 60 F at night),
drying them out in winter (or as
growth stops). Hybrids between
sections vary in culture.
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