Caring for Dendrobium Orchids
There's so much to accomplish at my Bedford, New York farm - it’s always very satisfying to check off chores from our long "to-do" list.
My gardeners and outdoor grounds crew are in the process of aerating and reseeding the lawns, potting up new bare root plants and repotting precious orchids, including a collection of Dendrobiums. Native to Southeast Asia, the genus Dendrobium is among the largest of all orchid groups. There are more than 1000 individual species that vary in size, bloom color, and appearance. Dendrobiums grow in all climates, from hot, wet lowlands to high-altitude, colder mountains. All Dendrobiums are epiphytes, which means they grow on other plants. In nature, they grow on the branches of trees. Some are deciduous and some hold onto their leaves all year round. Here is how we divided and repotted the Dendrobium orchids, many of which had outgrown their pots.
Enjoy these photos.
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- I have many dendrobium orchids that need repotting. I also like to give some of them away to friends. Though dendrobiums like to be snug in their pots, these have definitely outgrown their containers.
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- Ryan uses a long thin knife to separate the plant from the sides of the pot. See Ryan’s gloves? They’re my durable non-slip garden gloves from my collection on QVC – Ryan uses them for many gardening tasks.
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- He gently runs the knife along the entire interior of the vessel. It’s a good idea to repot orchids every year and a half to two years or once the canes have begun to overgrow the pot or the potting medium remains soggy and no longer drains properly.
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- And then he slowly pulls out the plant. This can take a few big pulls, especially if the plant is wedged in tightly.
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- Ryan turns the pot as he pulls it out.
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- And uses the knife a second time to loosen more of the root ball.
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- Finally, another dendrobium is freed from its container. Here are a couple of dendrodiums ready for repotting. Potting can be done any time of the year after blooming without harming the plant. The bamboo-like stems are more apparent when not in bloom. Many dendrobiums go through a winter dormant time.
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- Use a water-retentive potting mix. A medium-grade fir bark with peat moss and perlite is a common orchid mixture. With all the orchids to repot, Ryan prepared a wheelbarrow filled with potting medium.
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- The next step is to give the orchid a clean cut along the bottom of the root ball to stimulate growth.
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- Chhewang also helps to scarify the root ball, which is to shave off about an inch from all the sides to stimulate the roots and promote healthy development. Then, he can safely divide the plant if needed.
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- Chhewang divides this specimen into two. These orchids can be divided as long as they have at least seven or eight canes. Dividing a plant with less may stunt the growth of each division.
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- The best type of pot to use for a dendrobium orchid is a clay pot because water evaporates from clay pots faster. Chhewang covers the bottom of the pot with a layer of appropriate orchid potting mix.
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- Then he tests the plant in the pot to ensure it is the right size – only go up one size when repotting as dendrobiums bloom best when a little pot bound.
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- It is important to also plant it at the right height – generally the same height in which it was planted in its previous pot.
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- The potting mix should be about one-inch below the top of the pot, so none of it overflows when watering.
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- Chhewang gently presses the medium into the pot to ensure it is well packed, adding more potting mix if necessary.
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- Dendrobium orchids do best in an environment that is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, they can tolerate a temperature drop to about 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The best place to grow these orchids indoors is on an east facing windowsill, although a shaded south facing window will also work – too much sun burns the leaves.
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- These specimens will be stored in the citrus hoop house next to my Equipment Barn, where they can be closely monitored.
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- My large orchid collection takes up almost two long tables in my main greenhouse. Here are some of the orchids in bloom last winter.
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- Here is another dendrobium in winter bloom. Dendrobium is the second largest orchid genus. The evergreen canes are topped by a single three to five inch long inflorescence, each one producing four to eight flowers.
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- The ideal humidity range to grow dendrobiums is 50 to 60 percent humidity. It is also very important to have lots of air movement flowing between orchids.
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- This is Dendrobium ‘Aussie chip’ x. Dendronbium atroviolaceum ‘Pygmy’ x. Dendrobium atroviolacrum ‘H&R’. This photo was taken last February – it looks great on this table in my foyer. Orchids are among my favorite flowers – all the vibrant colors and variations in shape and size make me so happy. What kinds of orchids do you have?
Martha Pins
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