DENDROBIUM ORCHIDS
NUMBER 10 IN THE ORCHID SERIES
Another type of orchid we grow at home is the dendrobium. They come in many colours (white, green, purple, pink, yellow and more) and require a fairly warm environment. In fact, they lose their leaves in the winter when the ambient temperature drops below 60°F (15°C) or so. It is advised not to water dendrobiums from early autumn and throughout winter. The reason for this is that the plant is forced to produce flowers and not new plants which are called ‘kaaitjies’.
Antelope Type Dendropbium Orchid
Dendrobium species live as epiphytes and lithophytes in New Guinea, Southern China, Thailand, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and more. As a result, it’s hard to generalize how to care for these types of orchids. Some of them require cool nights of 50 to 59°F (10 to 15°C) while some of them require warm temperatures in the 80s°F (27°C). That’s why it’s so important to understand their natural environment so that you get a healthy plant.