Dendrobium phalaenopsis, a year-round bloomer!

Posted by Jacqueline on October 4th, 2006 in Plants database

Dendrobium phalaenopsis (Dendrobium Orchid)

Orchids are such elegant and exotic beauties, highly prized, cultured and grown worldwide! And it’s definitely unsurprising that they’re treasured in our tropical garden, ranking topmost as our favorite flowers! We’ve been growing orchids for more than 36 years now…ahem…that’s as long as our marriage! ;) Our favorites are the dendrobium phalaenopsis and vandas as they’re not only very affordable, easy growing and low maintenance, but a sight to behold! Just look at this image of dendrobiums below to get an idea!

A colorful display of Dendrobium phalaenopsis orchids for sale at one of our local orchid nursery

One flowering Dendrobium phalaenopsis orchid stalk can burst with 3-20 flowers and can last as long as 1-3 months! And some flowers are sweetly scented too! Stunning and spectacular, they come in various colors, shapes and forms, brightening our garden the whole year round! Not that they don’t stop blooming, but if you have a few plants flowering at different times of the year with long lasting blooms, it seems to be a continuous year round of flowering delights! :D

Plant Profile, Culture and Propagation -:

  • Botanical Name: Dendrobium phalaenopsis
  • Common Name: Dendrobium Orchid
  • Family name: Orchidaceae
  • Plant type: Indoor or outdoor flowering plant, native to South East Asia and Australia.
  • Light: These are warm growing orchids, thus require moderate to high light. Locate in semi-shade areas with preference to morning sun, though never under direct sun which will scorch the leaves.
  • Moisture: Regular watering as roots should be moist when plant is in active growth. When watering, water thoroughly – best to immerse orchid pot in a pail of water until no more air bubbles appear. Moderate humidity is required too.
  • Soil: Potting medium should be open and coarse. Fir bark mixtures are best, with reasonable chunks of bark, perlite and charcoal. Alternatively, use broken pieces of terra cotta or clay pots with a mixture of charcoal or coconut husk or sphagnum moss.
  • Propagation: By dividing the older stems (even leafless ones) or old pseudobulbs that will then generate new plantlets, probably two or three from each stem as seen in left image. This is characteristic of Dendrobiums phalaenopsis which usually develop new growth from its bulblike base and even produce plantlets (like air plants) at the top tip of older canes.

    New growth (plantlets) from the pseudobulbs of Dendrobium phalaenopsis New growth with aerial roots (air plant) of Dendrobium phalaenopsisBest time to divide and multiply is when the plant outgrows the pot or when the canes start growing out over the edge of the pot! Break the pot with a hammer, divide the canes with a sharp knife into 1-3 canes per division, remove rotted roots if any and repot.

    As for the air plants with its aerial roots, remove by snipping about 2 inches of the supporting cane below it and pot in orchid medium. So, do not throw or trim off your leafless canes that are still alive unless shriveled and dead because it may surprise you yet with a spray of blooms or new young shoots! Dollars saved here for home gardeners!
  • Features: These stunning epiphytic orchids are so called Dendrobium phalaenopsis orchids due to its strong resemblance between their flowers and those of the phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid). A vigorous growing plant reaching a height of less than a meter with bright green ovate leaves which are held on canes that usually become top heavy as it ages. Each spray holding 3-20 gorgeous blooms will sprout from the upper leaf axils. There may be more than one spray on each cane. Flower colors range in varying shades of white, pink, magenta, yellow, orange, chartreuse and others. You’ll be blown over with such a magnitude of dendrobium colors!
  • Care: Check this useful dendrobium culture notes on healthy growth that leads to abundant flowering, prepared by the Canadian Orchid Congress. Do explore too Toptropicals.com for other orchid varieties and culture information. Another pleasant educative read on orchids, if you’re interested.

You may want to enjoy seeing more dendrobium pictures at Toptropicals.com and an orchid photo library at The Orchid Photo Page.

Sharing below are flower images of Dendrobium orchids (phalaenopsis type) that are grown in our garden. Enjoy! :)

Dendrobium ‘Hiang Beauty’ / ‘Stripe Thailand’

 Dendrobium Stripe Thailand or Den. Hiang Beauty Dendrobium 'Hiang Beauty' / 'Stripe Thailand'

Dendrobium ‘Burana Jade’

 Dendrobium 'Burana Jade' Close-up of Dendrobium 'Burana Jade'

Dendrobium ‘Deang Suree’

 Dendrobium 'Deang Suree' Dendrobium 'Deang Suree' (phalaenopsis type)

Dendrobium Chaisri Gold ‘Hawaii’

 Dendrobium Chaisri Gold 'Hawaii' at our backyard Dendrobium Chaisri Gold 'Hawaii'

Dendrobium ‘Burana Stripe’

 Triple delights of Dendrobium 'Burana Stripe' Dendrobium 'Burana Stripe' lighted up by the sun

Dendrobium Paskal Kuning ‘Hawaii’

 Dendrobium Paskal Kuning 'Hawaii' Dendrobium Paskal Kuning 'Hawaii'

Dendrobium ‘White Pagoda’

 Dendrobium 'White Pagoda' Lovely stalk of Dendrobium 'White Pagoda'

Dendrobium ‘Sonia’

 Dendrobium 'Sonia' Dendrobium 'Sonia'

Updated on Sept 1, 2007 – Some recent dendrobium pictures from our garden here!

Last edited: May 27, 2016

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10 Responses to “Dendrobium phalaenopsis, a year-round bloomer!”

  1. Jessica Says:
    February 26th, 2008 at 11:30 am

    I bought a Dendrobium burana stripe number 1 about 6 years ago, it hasn’t flowered in years! But the leaved are still alive…what can I do to get it to flower? thanks for any info, and great site!

  2. Jacqueline Says:
    February 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Hi Jessica!

    I’m no orchid expert, just sharing from experience – Dendrobium phalaenopsis needs adequate moisture, humidity, sufficient sunlight and good air movement, plus a fortnightly feed of a balanced fertilizer for best plant growth, leading to flowering. We’re diligent with these care requirements and leave the rest to nature and our blessed tropical hot and wet climate which suits it perfectly. Some flowers more than the others, but as long as they’re healthy with green leaves and rather fat canes, we’re happy and hopeful.

    We bought our Dendrobium Burana Stripe as a very young plant (about 3-4″ tall) and it first flowered after 4.5 years of care. So, if your plant is looking healthy and alive, it should be flowering any time soon, I’d think. I’ve read somewhere that recommends to work on growing healthy canes and pseudobulbs, as the flower power is stored in them, and the plant will flower if this energy is available. You may want to read more by following this link to Dendrobium Orchid Culture, which I’ve found enriching. All the best! :)

  3. jenna Says:
    May 20th, 2008 at 10:20 am

    I just wanted to know if I’ve destroyed my orchid by dead heading it down to the base of the stalk. Will my orchid ever bloom again?
    Your input would be much appreciated!
    Thank you,
    Jenna

  4. Jacqueline Says:
    May 20th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    Hi Jenna!
    Not to worry…you did right by snipping the spent flowering stalk at its base. New flowering stalk will emerge from the other leaf axils along the healthy cane. I’ve even seen them sprout from the upper nodes of leafless canes! Hence, do not cut away old canes unless they’re really shriveled and dried! ;)

  5. jenna Says:
    June 6th, 2008 at 6:45 am

    Thank you! I am so relieved that they’re OK.
    I almost bought some replacements!….Then again I think I will just have to do that anyway! :D
    I love Orchids so much!
    yours truly,
    Jenna

  6. Jacqueline Says:
    June 7th, 2008 at 11:51 pm

    You’re most welcome, Jenna! I’m so happy for you! :-)

  7. Katie Says:
    November 9th, 2008 at 12:30 am

    My boyfriend got me a beautiful D. Burana Jade plant from hawaii for my birthday. I live in Colorado, which i know is not the wet, hot tropical climate this beautiful plant is used to. I was wondering if there were any tricks to help her think she is still in a tropical climate, and not be affected by the major lack of warmth and humidity. Thank you for your time and consideration.

  8. Jacqueline Says:
    November 11th, 2008 at 5:08 pm

    Hi Katie,
    You just need to mimic its natural habitat for best growth, that is providing sufficient bright light/sunlight, humidity and water, as well as fertilize it fortnightly. Do check out the links I have provided above under the sub-item ‘Care’ to assist you. All the best!

  9. anne Says:
    March 25th, 2010 at 5:52 am

    I HAVE A YOUNG BURANA PINK WITH TWO SPIKES.

    I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ORCHID EXPERT THAT DIFFERENT DEN. NEED TEMPS COOL, MEDIUM AND WARM TEMPS.

    I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HAVE LIGHT REQUIREMENTS.

    THIS IS ALL LEADING UP TO WHAT DOES MY DEN. BURANA PINK NEED REGARDS TO TEMP. AND LIGHT.

    ONE MORE QUESTION. THE GREEN HOUSE THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM IN HAWAII SAYS IT WILL BLOOM AT LEAST 4 TIMES A YEAR AND IS VERY PROLIFIC SO IT MIGHT BLOOM MORE TIMES AS IT AGES ?????????

    ANY INFO WOULD BE HELPFUL.

    THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME GROWING ORCHIDS SO BE AS SPECFIC AS YOU CAN.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY INFO ON THIS BEAUTIFUL ORCHID.

    ANNE

  10. The Perfect Temperatures for Orchid Plants. Grow Orchids. Says:
    September 1st, 2010 at 3:51 am

    […] they will survive frigidity that will kill the four (Phalaenopsis Hybrid, Oncidium Grower Ramsey, Dendrobium Phalaenopsis and Paphaeopedlium Hybrid) species I have mentioned […]

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