How to grow dendrobium orchids at home?

Among a sea of ​​shapes and colors of graceful orchids, Dendrobium Nobile remains unique and unforgettable. This orchid blooms in a very unusual way. Its trunk, literally from the base to the top, is strewn with large flowers of various colors. It attracts the attention of flower growers to her and the fact that caring for this species is not as difficult as for others. Having learned all the nuances of plant care, even a novice orchid grower will be able to cope with growing Dendrobium Nobile at home.

The origin and appearance of the Dendrobium nobile orchid

The perennial herb Dendrobium Nobile belongs to the orchid family. Its second name, Noble Orchid, characterizes this wonderful flower as accurately as possible.

The adorable orchid Dendrobium nobile is a worthy representative of the orchid family

Like most representatives of the orchid family, Dendrobium Nobile came to us from Asia. India, Bhutan, Assam, Himalayas, Thailand, China - this is not a complete list of countries where this plant is found.

The translation of the name of this genus of orchids - "living on trees" - speaks for itself. These orchideirs lead an epiphytic lifestyle - they grow on other plants or are permanently attached to them. Dendrobium Nobile grows in deciduous and evergreen tropical forests. But there are also lithophytes that adorn the harsh, moss-covered rocks.

Dendrobium nobile - epiphytic plant

Dendrobium nobile has a sympodial type of growth: from erect pseudobulbs, divided into segments, a thick juicy stem up to 90 cm high is formed. Initially green, the pseudobulb turns yellow by the end of life (after about 4 years) and dies off. But before that, children are formed on its top, giving life to new plants.

Appearing in Europe in the 19th century, the plant instantly became incredibly popular. On its basis, they immediately began to develop new hybrids, which in our time can no longer be counted. For this reason, you will not be able to find a real Dendrobium Nobile orchid in a store.

Large, up to 9 cm in diameter, flowers have a waxy texture. The color is varied - white, yellow, orange, deep purple. A distinctive feature of Dendrobium Nobile hybrids is a special arrangement of peduncles. They are formed not at the top of the pseudobulb, but along its entire length. The inflorescences consist of 1 to 3 flowers. And the whole pseudobulb can be decorated with 70 flowers at the same time.

Dendrobium nobile orchid flowers have a variety of colors

Home content

Care and reproduction of Dendrobium Nobile at home is not difficult.But this, of course, when compared with the complexity of keeping other species of the orchid family. Indeed, there is no need to shake over the Dendrobium Nobile and, as they say, to blow off dust particles from it. But you need to clearly understand that an orchid is not an ingenuous geranium, but an exotic one that requires increased attention and strict adherence to the rules of care. A flower grower who has taken Dendrobium Nobile to his home is obliged to create an environment for the orchid that is as close as possible to the natural conditions of its habitat.

Compared with other orchids, the Dendrobium Nobile is not such a capricious orchid.

Advantages and disadvantages of an exotic flower

Among the advantages of this orchid, flower growers note beauty, a variety of shapes and colors, a pleasant aroma, and long flowering. And, of course, not capricious against the background of other orchids character.

Among the disadvantages is the intolerance to dry air, which complicates the care of Dendrobium Nobile at home in apartments with central heating.

One of the indisputable advantages of Dendrobium Nobile is its colorful flowering.

Planting and transplanting

Representatives of the orchid family are not very fond of transplanting, and Dendrobium Nobile is no exception. The plant is transplanted once every 3 years - and then on urgent need:

• if the plant is sick;
• in case of compaction or salinity of the substrate;
• the plant grew strong, the pot became cramped.

Dendrobium nobile is transplanted in the spring, after flowering.

Soil composition

For planting or transplanting Dendrobium Nobile, a soil mixture is required that conducts air and water well. The basis of such a mixture is pine bark of the middle fraction. If desired, you can add chopped moss, coconut fiber to it. Be sure to include pieces of coal in the substrate, they will prevent soil acidification.

You should also take into account the light factor.

• if the plant is located on the south window, then more moss can be added to the mixture - it retains moisture longer;
• on the north window, on the contrary, the mixture should "breathe" more - it is better to add small pieces of polystyrene as a baking powder to the pine bark.

In which pot to move the plant

Dendrobium nobile is a rather big plant, especially adult specimens. Therefore, it is better to choose an air-permeable clay container with good drainage holes.

Before planting, the clay container must be prepared: calcined in the oven, let cool and soak in clean, settled water for 2 hours.

Now there are a lot of special ceramic orchid pots on sale, which have holes on the walls, which significantly improves gas exchange in the root system. The size of the pot should correspond to the size of the root system and only 2 cm larger than the diameter of the previous one.

Recently, there have been many decorative pots adapted for growing orchids.

How to transplant: a step-by-step description of the process

1. Old soil is completely removed from the root system of the plants. If this is difficult to do, the pot with the plant is soaked in water, and then the swollen substrate is very easily removed. The orchid is carefully removed from the pot, after having saturated the roots and substrate with water.
2. Examine the roots, remove damaged or broken ones. The wounds must be sprinkled with crushed coal and left for several hours in the air to dry out the damaged areas. Before transplanting, the roots of the orchid are carefully examined and rotten areas are removed.
3. At this time, a large layer of drainage is poured into a new container, and on top of an approximately 2-3 cm layer of substrate. It is better to lay it in a slide so that it is more convenient to arrange the roots. Drainage layer
4. The orchid is placed exactly in the center of the dish, the remaining substrate is added on the sides. Pseudobulbs are not buried. The orchid is placed in the center of the pot, the substrate is poured on the sides
5. If the plant needs support, it must be installed and an orchid fixed on it. Sometimes Dendrobium Nobile needs support
6. The transplanted plant is sent to a shaded place with a temperature of 20 ° C. Plants recover after transplanting without heat and bright light
7. After 2-3 days of adaptation, if there was no severe damage to the root system, the orchid can be watered.

Dendrobium Nobile is grown not only in pots. Orchids grow very well when placed on a block. A block is a material to which a plant can be attached. For this, you can use the bark of pine or cork oak, a block of tree fern. Recently, this method of planting is gaining in popularity.

Dendrobium nobile orchid on the block

Video: dendrobium faded - you can also transplant

What to do when caring for an orchid at home

Caring for Dendrobium Nobile is not as difficult as for some other types of orchids, but the plant requires strict adherence to the basic rules.

The orchid will live and bloom with proper watering

First, let's talk about the quality of the liquid. The water should be soft, filtered. You can use boiled and cooled. Its temperature should be several degrees above room temperature.

Each apartment has its own microclimate, therefore, under different conditions of detention, it is impossible to establish clear rules for watering: a florist must focus on the level of illumination and temperature of his own home. The hotter, the more generous the watering should be, and, conversely, with decreasing temperature, the intensity of moisture decreases.

Spring and summer watering is abundant, but not frequency. The bark filling the pot must be completely dry before the next moistening. In winter, watered very carefully to avoid root rot.

The ideal method of moistening is still the immersion method, when the pot with the plant is immersed 1/3 into a container of water so that the roots and substrate are thoroughly nourished, then excess moisture is allowed to drain.

Many flower growers recommend regularly bathing the orchid under a hot shower, the temperature of which is from 40 to 45 ° C. This procedure not only cleans the leaves, helping to improve gas exchange in the tissues, but also stimulates flowering. Be sure to blot the water in the axils of the leaves after a shower to avoid rotting.

It is best to water Dendrobium Nobile using the immersion method

How much to fertilize

Since the orchid grows in poor soil, it must be fertilized, but only at a certain time. Top dressing begins in spring, when active growth of the flower resumes, and continues during the flowering period. You should never forget how much and what kind of feeding is needed for Dendrobium Nobile. Use only fertilizers intended for orchids. Their rate is reduced by half of that indicated in the instructions. Top dressing is applied at every 3rd watering. Foliar top dressing with highly diluted fertilizer will not be superfluous. By alternating between these methods, you will help the plant absorb the nutrients as much as possible.

Dendrobium Nobile has one feature. In the spring, not only growth buds wake up, but also flower buds. Passion for nitrogen fertilizers will lead to the formation of a large number of children, but you can not wait for flowering. Therefore, when the sprouts have reached almost half of their size, abandon nitrogen-containing dressings in favor of those that include phosphorus.

Video: how not to fertilize a plant

Preparing for flowering

Dendrobium nobile blooms at different times of the year, this is due to the incredible number of hybrid forms. The flowering period takes a month, sometimes a little more. Its duration directly depends on the air temperature of the room in which the plant is contained. The higher it is, the sooner the orchids will fade. The ideal flowering temperature is 18 C.

Sometimes the orchid refuses to bloom. Why? This happens if you do not pay attention to the plant's requirements for keeping conditions. If you observe the correct combination of lighting, temperature and watering parameters, then there will be no problems with the development of flower buds.

1. From spring, the lighting should be as bright as possible.
2. The temperature during the day is within 25 C and not higher, at night it is 3-5 C lower, otherwise the flower buds will degenerate into growth buds.
3. Watering is abundant, with good drying of the substrate.
4. Don't overdo it with fertilizers. Increased concentration can damage the roots.

After flowering, all peduncles are removed. If there is a need for a transplant, do it. Avoid watering the orchid for several days after transplanting to prevent possible root rot.

And most importantly, after flowering for an orchid, a period of rest must necessarily come.

Do not rush to remove old yellowed pseudobulbs. They will serve as food for young growing shoots. You can only cut them off after they are dry. Do not forget to sprinkle the cut with crushed coal.

For Dendrobium Nobile to bloom actively, it needs a lot of light

Video: careful care will make the orchid bloom

How to look after when the rest period has come

Dendrobium Nobile is a cyclic plant. It is necessary to create such conditions for the orchid so that it goes through all the cycles of its development provided by nature. The dormant period is very important for the flower. It was at this time that he accumulates strength, begins to prepare for the next flowering.

In our climatic conditions, Dendrobium Nobile is forced to go to winter rest. This is due to a decrease in the light intensity.

1. The plant must be taken to a room with a daytime temperature of 15 - 16 C, a night temperature - 10 - 12 C.
2. Watering stops. If the pseudobulbs begin to wrinkle, you can lightly spray the substrate and leaves.
3. It is not necessary to specially maintain moisture around the plant during this period.
4. After 2-3 weeks, flower buds should appear in the internodes of the pseudobulb.

After flowering, the orchid should rest.

Table: seasonal requirements of the Noble Orchid for keeping conditions

Table: the most common care errors, their elimination

Table: diseases and pests typical for Dendrobium nobile

The best prevention of Dendrobium Nobile against diseases and pests is proper care.

Photo gallery: recognize pests and diseases

Reproduction methods

It is not so easy to propagate Dendrobium Nobile at home. There are 3 proven methods for getting an orchid to reproduce.

Dividing the bush

An adult and healthy orchid Dendrobium nobile, which has at least 3 pseudobulbs, is subjected to this reproduction method. Since the procedure for a plant is stressful, it is carried out no more than 1 time in 4 years, combined with a transplant. Divide only after Dendrobium Nobile has faded.

1. Before dividing the bush, the orchid root system must be well saturated with water so that the roots become flexible and pliable.
2. We remove the plant from the pot, shake off the substrate. With a sharpened knife we ​​divide into parts so that each has 2 - 3 pseudobulbs with roots.
3. We immediately cover the sections with crushed coal.
4. We leave the delenki for a day in a slightly shaded place to dry out the wounds.
5. We plant it in a suitable soil mixture and take care of it in the same way as after transplanting.
6. New plants will bloom next year.

Dividing the Dendrobium Nobile bush

Why is it better to choose cuttings

This method is considered the easiest.

1. For grafting, you need to cut an old pseudobulb without leaves (plant trunk) at the root and cut it into pieces. Each must have at least 1 dormant kidney.
2. We process the cut points with coal dust.
3. We put the cuttings in a container filled with moist moss. We cover with a bag or glass to create greenhouse conditions inside.
4. We keep the greenhouse in a bright diffused light, regularly moisten and ventilate.
5. The root system is formed in 2 - 3 weeks, and the children themselves grow very quickly.

Dendrobium Nobile cuttings are laid on wet moss

When the roots have grown to 5 cm, transplant the plants into separate pots with fine pine bark and half coconut fiber and tend as an adult orchid.

Dendrobium nobile cuttings germinate very quickly

Reproduction by children

Dendrobium nobile forms a lot of babies, including from reborn flower buds.

Try to keep the babies on the mother plant as long as possible. This is necessary in order for the root system to grow back.

It is necessary to keep the children on the mother plant before the formation of their root system

When the shoots have reached 8 cm in size, they can be carefully separated from the mother plant with a knife.

Separate the children of Dendrobium Nobile with a sharp knife

Treat the cut points with activated carbon.

After a day, independent young plants can be planted in the substrate.

Reviews of orchid lovers Dendrobium Nobile: the reason is beauty

Hello houseplant lover! Dendrobium Nobile is my first orchid! I will describe the pros:
1) It blooms beautifully and profusely.
2) Nice scent, not all orchids smell.
3) Flowers seem to be artificial, who for the first time sees, approaches and touches: are they real ?!
4) They multiply very quickly (an appropriate climate is needed).
5) You can divide the bush, also for reproduction.
6) Not as capricious as Phalaenopsis.
Minuses:
1) It is affected by a spider mite (difficult to remove).
2) Bulbs do not always look aesthetically pleasing.
3) The substrate is not easy to pick up.

I love Orchids and wish you the same!

"Flowers are the remains of paradise on earth" - John of Kronstadt.

Dendrobium noble became one of my first orchids, when it was still rare to find them on sale in stores. Fortunately, the numerous hybrids that can be purchased are quite accommodating and unpretentious in care. Unlike a natural species, which needs a decrease in temperature in the autumn-winter period, it is enough for them to provide a good temperature drop. If this succeeds, some plants please with flowering 2 times a year. In summer, the plant thrives outdoors. I usually take them out on an open balcony in the spring, after the plant has bloomed and began to grow actively. During the summer, dendrobium expels new bulbs and often blooms a second time in August, when the difference between day and night temperatures is maximum.

With good care, plants can reach impressive sizes, but I do not advise you to divide the bush without special need, because the larger the bush, the more luxurious the flowering will be.

But the main thing that captivates me with this type of orchid is its amazing aroma, slightly sweet, very pleasant and not at all cloying.

Dendrobium Nobile is not yet as popular as Phalaenopsis. In our flower shops, you can meet Dendrobium, except for the New Year. But more and more fans of this beautiful orchid are appearing. With proper care, Dendrobium Nobile can bloom 2 times a year. And this species reproduces very easily. And this means that after a short time, you will be able to create not only a whole orchid garden, but you will also give a beautiful plant to your friends.