Dendrobium Orchid Plant: How to Grow, Care for, and Maintain

 

Hi Tom,

Here are some care tips on how to grow a Dendrobium Orchid Plant.

Light: A Dendrobium Orchid plant likes bright indirect light for at least several hours each day but no direct sun.

Water: All orchid plants like to be watered in the morning, that way the leaves and stems have a chance to dry out before nightfall. Use tepid water never cold water. Never use water that has passed through a softener; it is too salty. If your household water has a lot of chemicals, allow it to sit out over night before using it. There are several things that determine how often a Dendrobium Orchid Plant will need water: type of soil, size of pot, type of pot it is planted in, temperature and humidity in the room. I like to use a small, clay pot with drip holes in the bottom filled with orchid soil for a Dendrobium Orchid Plant.  These orchids plants like to be in small pots that are taller than they are wide. Wait until the soil has practically dried out before watering. When you do water, water well enough so that it comes out the drip holes in the bottom of the pot. Never allow a Dendrobium Orchid plant to sit in the excess water.

Fertilizer : Feed a Dendrobium Orchid plant “weakly,” “weekly” when the plant is actively growing. Use a balanced orchid plant food diluted to 1/3-1/4 the recommended strength. Do not feed a Dendrobium Orchid plant when it is dormant or when the plant is in bloom. In an emergency you can also use a well- balanced houseplant food at 1/3-1/4 the recommended strength. Temperature: 65°F-70°F (18.3°C-21.1°C) during the day and 10°-15° cooler at night. Temperature is especially important during the fall when orchid flowers are just starting to develop. I have found that orchid bloom more often when the temperature is on the cooler side.

Pruning: After the flowers on an orchid plant die, cut the flower spike stem off directly above the highest leaf. Do not cut off the main stems that emerge from the bulbs. Continue to water and feed the plant as usual. It may take as long as a year for the plant to re-flower.