Dendrobium is perhaps the most commonly grown orchid in the tropics. Its name comes from the Greek words dendron, meaning "tree", and bios, meaning "life", hence "life on tree", a description of dendrobium being an epiphyte. There are about 1000 species of Dendrobium all over the world. Their habitat ranges from Asia to as far south as New Zealand.
Dendrobium is easy to grow, hardy, and floriferous. Being such a huge genus, it is difficult to generalise the description of Dendrobiums. Their pseudobulbs range from a few centimeters in some species to over a meter in others. The leaves are usually flattened and joined at the base. There are some species that are deciduous. The inflorescence come out either at the end of the stalk or near it.
Dendrobium can be divided into two types: the warm-growing dendrobiums that need lots of water, and the cool-growing deciduous dendrobiums that may need a dry spell to promote flowering. The following are some of the species of Dendrobium.
Dendrobiums need plenty of light. However keep them away from direct sunlight.
Care
The warm-growing Dendrobiums should be watered sparingly during winter while the cool-growing Dendrobiums require a dormant season, during which they should not be watered at all. Water moderately during summer.
Feeding
Apply fertiliser once a fortnight when it is growing vigorously.
Repotting
Use a porous mixture of chopped fern, or beech roots and sphagnum moss in a ratio of 2:1.
Propagating
Dendrobiums are propagated by division. This is done after the plant has flowered. Make sure there are at least three or four pseudobulbs in each division.
Hamlyn Encyclopedia of House Plants, by Rob Herwig
Orchids of Asia, by Teoh Eng Soon
The Macdonald Encyclopedia of Orchids
Orchid Growing in the Tropics, by the Orchid Society of South East Asia
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