This plant’s name refers to the way in which it grows in the wild: preferably on trees, but sometimes also on rocks.

Dendron is Greek for ‘tree’ and ‘bios’ means life.
The Dendrobium Nobilé originates from South-East Asia, the Himalayan region, Malaysia, South China and Japan.

The Dendrobium Nobilé differentiates itself from the other orchid species by the cluster of flowers which forms opposite the axil of each leaf. This unusual way of flowering on the stem gives the Nobilé a lifespan of at least 8 weeks. The scented flowers are five to eight cm across. The colour ranges from entirely white through yellow and orange to red and purple and combinations of these colours.

Care

This orchid can tolerate a lot of light, but do not place it in direct sun. Ensure a cool, well-ventilated environment of between 15 and 20 ºC.

Like other orchids, the Nobilé should not get too wet. Only water when the soil is almost dry, once every 5 to 7 days is enough. It is also a good idea to give the plant a ‘good dunking’ once a month.

The Dendrobium Nobilé starts its flowering cycle in the spring. From that moment on it’s important to keep the plant growing. This requires good humidity, regular watering, a bit of food and placing the plant in a light and warm spot.

When the flower stem has finished flowering, the flowers will drop off of their own accord. Place the plant in a light spot where it is between 10 and 15 ºC in winter. Continue to water the plant as normal during this period – don’t allow it to dry out. The orchid produces new flowers from a new shoot. This generally takes eight to twelve months.

The Dendrobium Nobilé does not do well in a pot which is too large and can even stay in the same pot for 2 to 3 years. In smaller pots the potting mixture (bark) will dry out more rapidly, so that the roots are more likely to remain intact. Repotting is therefore only necessary when the plant really not longer fits in the pot. As time passes, water the plant in the ‘small’ pot more often. This is because a ‘larger’ plant consumes more water. Immersing it thoroughly and draining remains the best way of watering!

Read all about the Dendrobium here.