Herself's Houseplants

There are many orchids under the name dendrobium with diverse needs. You’ll want to start here and adjust your care to your plants needs.

These are medium light orchids, putting out long stalks with a dozen or so one to two inch flowers. I like the bamboo like, oriental look they have even when they are not in bloom. Many dendrobiums go through a winter dormant time. I find mine don’t grow during this period.

Dendrobiums are happy in an east or west window, but will do best in a south facing window during high growth cycles. If you do put them outdoors put them in the shade.

Dendrobiums like warm temperatures, between 65-95 so you probably don’t want to put them outdoors, except in the warmest parts of summer. Like most orchids a difference in day and night temperatures helps to encourage blooming. In most homes putting your plant on a window sill is sufficient. Otherwise you may want to summer your plants outside in the summer.

Pot them in sphagnum moss, not dirt, which can be found at most nurseries. If you plant them in bark they will need to be watered almost daily in the average home.

They like to be root bound, so only re-pot them when the roots climb out of the pot.

Water when the top of the moss feels dry. The stems will get deep groves in them if they have been under watered for too long. Water them just enough to keep the stems from getting groves. Do not leave them sitting in water. In the winter water your dendrobiums less, and if yours are they type that drop their leaves in the winter, give them only as much water as you’d give a cactus during the winter watering only when very dry.

All of the orchids need a 15′F temperature difference between day and night to initiate blooming. But I’ve found these guys will bloom in a sunny window even with out a steep temperature difference.

See also:
General orchid care
Use sphagnum moss to make your plants easier to care for