Dendrobium is a very diverse genus with over 1000+ species and you are bound to find at least one species in every orchid collection. In my opinion, you have not been growing orchids until you try at least one even if you managed to kill it. Bear in mind, it will take a total negligence to bring these tough plants to their demise. Once you have grown and bloomed one successfully, you will only want to get more and more. Since it’s a big genus, plants of similar species are group into several sections. And one of the most beautiful and greatly rewarding sections to grow is the section ‘Formosae’. Species of this section are characteristics by evergreen leaf that carry though the first winter (although they may shed a few, but not completely like Nobile type) and short fuzzy black hairs on the lower base of the cane and leaf sheaths. Flowers are usually borne on the uppermost nodes of the cane in a cluster with up to 10 or more blooms, depending on the species. The size of the bloom range from 1” to 4” and are very long lasting, up to 6 weeks or more.
Light: The optimum level of light for this section is bright medium light (slightly lower than the level recommended for the Cattleyas and Oncidium). Smaller species such as Den. bellatulum and christyanum can be grown under light. On windowsill, un-shaded east window is the best, follow by shaded south or southeast window.
Water and Feeding: Formosae dendrobium requires water year round with heavy feeding during the active growing season using fertilizer high in nitrogen content. Keep in mind, they don’t really have distinct resting period like the Nobile or Callista group. New growth can emerges any time of the year, even in winter time and they may continue to grow or stop for a few weeks and continue again once the favourable condition are meet. You can keep it slightly dry for a day or two between watering once the growth is completed, but it’s not recommended to keep it bone dry for more than a week. When the plant are setting bud or flowering, keep the humidity level high by watering as soon as the plant get dry or misting lightly on the roots and plant. Try not to get any water on the bud, as it can cause ugly spotting or worse, bud blast.
Flowering: All species from this group blooms as soon as the growth matured or shortly after. They usually bloom on the upper most nodes of the cane in a cluster of 1-5 flowers, to as much as 10 or more in some species like Den.deareii. All most all the species have papery crystalline white flower. The bloom can be pure white or with various degree of yellow or green blush and most flowers have coloured throats in combination of yellow, orange, red and/or purple. A few species such as Den. lowii and trigonopus have golden yellow blooms.
Potting: All species from this group like fast draining potting mix that somewhat retain a little moisture and good air movement. Clay pots with side holes or wood baskets are preferable because most species tend to get top heavy with their long canes and heavy blooms. I use a medium bark potting mix with equal part of course charcoal, lava rock/perlite and 10% coconut husk. If you have a greenhouse or sunroom with high humidity, you can mount the plants and let the canes drop and roam free naturally. Smaller species such as bellatulum and christyanum are best mounted. All species from this section like to be pot bound.
Temperature: All species from this section like even temperature year round and since they don’t have long resting periods, there is no need for big drastic temperature fluctuation between summer and winter like the Nobile type. Most are intermediate grower with a few species that prefer slight cooler or warmer temperature.
Cool-Intermediate grower: (10-13’C) bellatulum, christyanum, infundibulum
Intermediate grower: (14-15’C) sanderae, lowii, draconis, trigonopus, williamsonii, wattii, virgineum, longicornu, spectisismum, tobaense,
Intermediate-Warm grower: (16-18’C) deareii, schuetzei, formosum, cerutum, scabrilinguis
Recommended Species:
Den. sanderae (& varieties): an intermediate grower with up to a meter long cane with short 3-4” leaf. Long lasting flowers are borne in a cluster on the uppermost of the cane from early spring to late fall. This specie has several forms and best known and widely grown varieties are sanderae var. Major and var. Luzonica. Flowers are 2-3” with large flaring lip that is flushed with purple in the variety major and just a hint of green in later one.
Den. schuetzei: a warm compact grower with 6-10” spindle shaped cane. 2-3” flowers are borne on the upper node and they are off white to ivory color with a green speckle throat. This specie usually flowers in spring to early summer.
Den. infundibulum: a cool grower with slender canes that are up to 2 feet long. 3-4” Flowers are white with small lip and a yellow throat. Petals are slightly wavy and have crystalline texture. The plant usually flowers in late winter to spring.
Den. bellatulum: a mini species that rarely grow bigger than 3-4”. The 1 to 1.5” white flower has a very large yellow-orange colored lip that deepened as the flower age. The plant can be grown under light and slight short dry rest in intermediate to cool condition.
Den. draconis: unlike other species from this section, this intermediate grower has a citric fragrance. The canes are up to 20” long and the waxy white flower has red streaked lip. All petals, sepals and the ruffled lip are pointed and slight curved.
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