*********** Dendrobium **********
CALLISTA - Most are bulbous plants with a pendant
inflorescence.Species: aggregatum, chrysotoxum, densiflorum,
farmeri, thyrsiflorum, etc.CULTURE: Summer - give warmth (60
to 90 degrees F), medium light, medium quantities of water and
fertilizer. Winter - cool (50 degrees F nights), medium light,
just enough water to keep bulbs from shriveling, no
fertilizer.
SPATULATA (antelope-type) - Evergreen for several years. Most
are large, vigorous plants with long-lasting blooms in summer
to several times a year.Species: antennatum, canaliculatum,
discolor, gouldii, johannis, lineale (veratrifolium),
stratiotes, strebloceras, taunnum.
CULTURE:
Warm all year (55 to 60 degrees F nights, 65 to 90 degrees F days);
no rest period; can be kept cooler in winter if dry; medium to high
light.
DENDROBIUM - Most plants pendulous, leaves all along canes.
Flowers 2-5 per inflorescence, from upper nodes of leafless
canes.Species - Group 1: chrysanthum, friedricksianum, nobile,
wardianum.Species - Group 2: anosmum, crassinode, falconeri,
fimbriatum, findlayanum, heterocarpum (aureum), loddigesii,
moniliforme, parishii, primulinum, transparens.
CULTURE - Group 1: Growth period in summer - give warmth, water,
and fertilize heavily from when roots appear until top leaf appears on
canes. Then give high light, little to no water, no fertlizer,
cool nights (40 to 50 degrees F). In other words, forget about
them!
CULTURE - Group 2: Same as Group 1, but winter nights 55
degrees F. Deciduous species need virtually no water in
winter.
LATOURIA - Leaves at top of pseudobulbs are large and
leathery, inflorescence erect, flowers commonly yellow-green.
Species: atroviolaceum, macrophyllum, spectabile, etc.
CULTURE: Same as antelope-types, but cooler and drier when
resting in winter.
FORMOSAE - Cane-like pseudobulbs, with black hairs on leaf
sheaths and pseudobulbs often apparent. Flowers usually white,
up to 4" across, 2 to 3 together from near the end of the
pseudobulb. Species: bellatulum, dearii, draconis, formosum,
infundibulum, lowii, lyonii, margaritaceum, sanderae,
schuetzii.
CULTURE: Intermediate to cool year-round 50 to 60
degrees F nights, max. 85 degrees F days. Water and fertilize
when growing; give a slight short rest (dry) when growth is
completed. Keep barely moist until growth starts again.
PHALAENANTHE - Evergreen for several years, with thin, tall
pseudobulbs, terminal inflorescences, usually appearing in
fall or twice a year (see culture).Species: affine, bigibbum
(phalaenopsis), dicuphum, williamsianum.
CULTURE: Grow warm
year-round (see below); 60 degrees F nights; water and
fertilize heavily when roots appear from new growth; low to
medium light; reduce water and fertilizer after growth
finishes. If a short (3 to 4week) cooler (55 degrees F), dry
rest is given, and then plants are warmed again (60 degrees F
min.), another growth may mature during winter and bloom in
spring. Treat this growth as a summer growth cycle. These grow
well with phalaenopsis, except for the rest period. If you
must keep plants cool in winter, keep them bone dry until
weather warms, then water as growth appears. Plants will go
deciduous with this cool/dry treatment.
Prepared by: Education Committee, American Orchid Society,
6000 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33405 (407) 585-8666.