Popular varieties
Not all varieties are suitable for growing in an apartment. On windowsills, hybrid varieties are more common. They are ideally adapted to artificial conditions, less capricious, differ in original colors.
- Dendrobium phalaenopsis. The stems are long, dense. Leaves are concentrated at the top of the stem. Peduncles are long with large flowers. With good care, up to 40 flowers bloom on one peduncle. Long bloom - 2-3 months. Coloring from snow-white to all shades of red, crimson. They stand in the cut for a very long time.
- Dendrobium noble. Stems are slightly flattened at the nodes, straight. The leaves are oblong, growing in two rows. Peduncles are short, formed in the upper part of two-year shoots. One peduncle carries 2-3 flowers. The color is uneven. The lip is whole, with pubescence. A characteristic feature is a dark purple patch on the lip.
- Dendrobium King. More compact variety. Stems are dense, cylindrical, thinner from above. Lanceolate leaves grow 3-4 at the top of the shoot. The flowers form small-flowered clusters, medium-sized, but very fragrant. Coloring from white to all shades of purple. Sepals grow together on the sides, the lip is three-lobed.
In stores, you can find orchids called dendrobium mix. This is not a particular variety, but simply orchids of different colors. Therefore, when buying such a plant, try to find out belonging to a particular variety - the conditions of detention largely depend on this.
Why doesn't dendrobium bloom? Inaccuracies in care can lead to the lack of flowering:
- If, instead of buds, children are actively formed, then this indicates a lack of light and an increased air temperature.
- Long-term absence of flowering - wintering conditions are violated, there is little light.
- Flowers bloom, but immediately dry up - pests, heat or excess moisture may be the culprit.
a brief description of
This flower belongs to the orchid family, Dendrobium is the name of the genus. As for the species diversity, the number of species is approaching one and a half thousand. Accurate counting is hampered by the fact that new species appear as a result of the selection of florists.
The area where the flower grows is a vast belt of equatorial and tropical forests in Australia, Oceania, the Islands of New Zealand and New Guinea, as well as China, Japan and the Philippines. The genus is characterized by an extraordinary variety of forms. Shoots length from 2 cm to 5 meters, they can be erect or falling.
Dendrobium in a natural environment
Orchids of the genus Dendrobium are typical epiphytes, that is, plants that live on other plants, using them as a substrate. Moreover, they do not parasitize, that is, they do not take away any nutrients. Occasionally they grow on stones (the so-called lithophytes).
Due to the open location of the roots, they are covered with velamen - a special spongy substance consisting of several layers of dead cells.
Transplant and reproduction
It is worth pointing out right away that orchids do not like transplanting. Therefore, it should be carried out no more often than once every two to three years, if the growth of the plant and the depletion of the substrate require it. Some warning signs may require an extra transplant. In order not to be mistaken, be guided by the following main reasons for the transplant:
Rhizome overgrowth. The plant is so overgrown with root mass that it pushes out the substrate. Since this happens slowly, it is not always possible to notice this process. Usually it becomes visible when the roots crawl out to the surface, not fit in the pot.
Overgrown roots are a sign that a transplant needs to be done
- Depletion of the substrate. If the sod masses in the pot have completely given up all organic matter and do not hold the plants well, this is a sign that they are preparing for transplantation. It is difficult for the roots of the orchid to catch on to the ground; the plant is in danger of falling out of the pot, especially with developed pseudobulbs.
- The roots have turned brown as a result of decay. Since the plant needs to remove the damaged shoots of the root system, it is simultaneously transplanted into a new pot.
- The orchid is infested with animal or plant parasites. It is highly likely that the soil contains eggs, spores or bacteria. In this case, the transplant is carried out in the literal sense of a sterile pot and disinfected soil.
The step-by-step transplant process will look like this, regardless of the reasons for which you are doing it:
Step 1
Find a pot that is the right size. If you are replanting an orchid due to the fact that the roots have grown, take it slightly larger than the previous one - by 2 - 3 cm. There should be drainage holes in the bottom, and preferably in the walls.
Step 2
Prepare the substrate. At the bottom of the pot, lay a layer of drainage of 3 - 4 centimeters. To do this, use large stones, pieces of pine bark. Expanded clay can cause salinization of the soil, give preference to natural pebbles. All drainage must be boiled. It is better to buy turf mass in the store, but you can cook it yourself. Do not forget to include pieces of moss, fern rhizomes, charcoal in the soil.
Step 3
Remove the orchid from the old pot by gently shaking it out. Place an earthen clod in warm water - it is so easy to remove compressed remnants of old soil from the roots. Cut off rotten, diseased and weak roots with sharp scissors or a knife, treat the cut with activated carbon.
Step 4
Place the plant in a new pot, support if necessary. The rhizome should lie on the drainage layer. Fill the top of the pot with soil, but not to the top, but with an indent of 2-3 cm from the edge. There is no need to tamp the soil, just shake the pot gently to distribute it evenly.
Step 5
After transplanting, do not water the orchid to prevent rotting of the cut points. Better place it in a shaded place with an air temperature of about 20 degrees. Watering can be done after three days.
During the transplant, you can understand if it's time to propagate the dendrobium.
Reproduction
There are several ways to propagate an orchid, like many other home-grown plants:
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Children, that is, small young shoots with rudiments of the root system. The children are cut off when they grow up to 5 cm, then soaked for a couple of hours and placed in a pot half filled with soil. The rest of the soil is filled up later, leaving a growth point on the surface. The main thing at this time is normal hydration. You can spray the ground so that it does not dry out.
- By dividing the bush. For this purpose, young strong pseudobulbs are selected, cut them, divided into 10 cm fragments. The moistened pieces of stems are placed on a hygroscopic material soaked in moisture and placed under a film or in a bag to create greenhouse conditions. Next, they wait for the appearance of the roots, after which the plants are planted like children.
- Propagation by cuttings. To do this, the upper part of the plant is cut to a length of 12 cm, placed in a container, where water is poured to the bottom. Both the water and the container must be sterilized. After a few months, the cuttings throw out the roots, then they can be planted in a pot.
How to care after flowering
After the orchid has faded, it leaves the dormant state and begins an active growing season. In this case, the humidity in the room needs to be increased (in general, flower growers simply need a hygrometer). The temperature should now be 20 degrees or slightly higher. You can water a little more than in winter, but it is still better to give the plant less moisture than pouring water into a pot.
In order for the plant not to hurt and grow well, it needs feeding. It is better to apply fertilizers in very small portions, in order to react in time to a possible negative reaction. If you are sure that the fertilizer is suitable, you can apply the next dose.
Many modern fertilizers are extremely convenient
For an indoor flower, nitrogen fertilizers would be the best option - these are the ones that dendrobium needs most.
Among experienced flower growers specializing in representatives of the orchid system, it is believed that it is possible to stimulate the transition to a new stage of flowering by creating dormant conditions for the plant - that is, low temperature and humidity. Then, with successful hands, there is a chance to get several flowering periods after the main one. Do this at your own peril and risk, because it is impossible to completely standardize the conditions, therefore, there will always be an element of unpredictability.
Pruning dendrobium
After the orchid has faded, pseudobulbs remain, which have given rise to inflorescences. Those who have started an orchid, the question arises, what to do with them? The view is not very aesthetic, the flowers have fallen off. However, professionals advise to stop pseudobulbs only if they have already dried up and will no longer produce flowers. If you observe small green shoots on the pseudobulb, refrain from pruning it: it may still throw out flowers.
Pruning must be done with a sharp object
If it's all over, then there is no point in preserving the dried out processes. Orchids are quite susceptible to disease, so the instrument must be disinfected. Sharp scissors are best for this purpose. Do not cut off the fleshy shoots, you can harm the whole plant.
Indoor orchid care
Those who start the Dendrobium orchid note that caring for her at home it is much easier than for other varieties of this plant. Orchids come from tropical and subtropical Asia, where they grow epiphytically, that is, they use other trees or stones as support. These very specific living conditions determine the care requirements.
Watering
The aerial roots of Dendrobium orchids should not be watered, but irrigated by immersion. This procedure is repeated weekly.
Watering the Dendrobium orchid
Basic irrigation rules:
- Dip the root ball in water once a week;
- The substrate must not be too dry before re-immersion;
- Water is taken at room temperature, with a low calcium content, ideally without it at all. Hard water damages plants;
- After immersing the pot in water, you need to wait until air bubbles rise to the surface of the water;
Important! Do not leave the roots in water for more than half an hour, after the end of the procedure, immediately drain the water
- Rainwater is ideal for watering and spraying orchids;
- The humidity in the room must be at least 50%, it is necessary to check it periodically. If the moisture readings are low, the orchid needs to be sprayed;
- If necessary, to feed the plant, fertilizers are dissolved in water. You should never use excessive amounts of them; underfeeding is better than overfeeding. It is recommended to use special fertilizers for orchids available on the market;
- Top dressing is done during the growing season, in summer.
Important! If the humidity is constantly very low, it is necessary to regularly spray the Dendrobium orchid, especially if it is near a heating radiator. Spraying in the morning is preferable
Room temperature
To keep the Dendrobium orchid healthy, home care involves maintaining the correct temperature. The plant thrives at temperatures between + 16 ° C and + 23 ° C. If the room is too hot, it can lead to problems. In winter, Dendrobium prefers temperatures between + 16 ° C and + 18 ° C. Colds below + 10 ° C should be avoided.
Lighting
This type of orchid belongs to the light-loving, but the shining midday sun can lead to unsightly burns on the leaves. At home, they are under the canopy of host plants in the dense jungle, so they are protected from the sun.
Orchid bark
If the plant is placed on an open south window, it is better to use a protective curtain that creates diffused light. In winter, it is necessary to use additional lighting, for example, fluorescent lamps.
The soil
Regular indoor plant soil is not suitable for orchids
For them, it is important to use a special soil, which is a plant substrate consisting of bast, charcoal, pieces of bark, peat and foam flakes. Many florists prepare it themselves
Before backfilling the substrate, a drainage layer of small pebbles or brick chips is placed on the bottom of the pot. The surface of the soil is covered with bark.
Important! Compositions containing calcium, for example, limestone, are not allowed as drainage.
Bloom
The flowering time of an orchid depends on the species. This usually happens in the spring, summer, or after resting in the winter. During this period, it is necessary to ensure regular feeding and watering. During rest, on the contrary, the irrigation should be reduced and the temperature should not be higher than + 18 ° C.
