Dendrobium Orchid
Dendrobium spp. and hybrids
Dendrobiums are orchids with cane-like stems and sprays of flowers in purple, white, pink and yellow. Many are easy in warm, bright conditions and can be grown outdoors in tropical gardens or on a sunny windowsill.
Photo: Maja Dumat from Deutschland (Germany) · CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Bright indirect light, Partial sun
Watering
Moderate
Water when the bark is almost dry; water less in winter for many types.
Soil
Coarse orchid bark or charcoal and tile chips in a small pot.
Temperature and humidity
12–35 °C · High humidity
Feeding
Feed weekly at quarter strength while growing.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division, offsets
Leave old canes; they can flower again and store food.
Dendrobium orchids are not toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Give more light than moth orchids.
Pot up keikis that form on canes.
Use small pots; roots like to be snug.
Good airflow prevents rot.
Common problems
Mealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf joints and under leaves, weakening plants and spreading easily to neighbours.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestScale insects
Immobile, shell-covered insects that cling to stems and leaves, draining sap and weakening trees and houseplants.
How to treat it →
