Dendrobium

There are more than 1000 Dendrobium orchids species recorded to date. Wild Dendrobium orchids are mostly epiphytic or lithophytic. Some Dendrobium orchids species found in Singapore include Dendrobium singaporense, Dendrobium crumenatum (pigeon orchid), Dendrobium leonis, Dendrobium concinnum, Dendrobium lamellatum, Dendrobium pulchellum, Dendrobium secundum and Dendrobium subulatum.

Cane Dendrobiums are widely grown for commercial cut orchids and potted plants worldwide. Tropical hard cane Dendrobiums are evergreen and grown in the tropical belt for its cut flowers and potted plants. Flowers produced by hard canes commonly known as sprays are racemose inflorescences. The peduncle grows indefinitely and bears flowers with the older flowers at the base of the stalk and younger buds near the growing point.

Soft cane Dendrobiums are deciduous and often produced in the subtropic belt as potted plants. They shed their leaves either partially or completely during winter to conserve energy and water. During this time, sugar accumulation occurs at the axillary nodes along the length of the cane itself promotes inflorescence formation towards the end of winter when the temperature turns warmer.

Here at Toh Garden, we grow most of our tropical Dendrobiums in pieces of hardwood charcoal. Plants are fertilized twice a week with our exclusive in-house blend of foliar fertilizers. Smaller size Dendrobiums are also mounted onto hardwood pieces and hang up for growing.

Tropical Dendrobiums are customarily grown in partial shade lath house with black nettings with charcoal, coco chips or rocks as growing media. They are also grown hang onto a substrate like wood. The orchids are fertilized twice a week.