Dendrobium Pot Planting Techniques and Variety Selection Methods
Dendrobium can be used for ornamental purposes. Its flowers are elegant in form, brilliant in color, and fragrant in scent, making it one of the “four great ornamental exotic flowers.” It can also be used medicinally, with effects of benefiting the stomach and promoting fluid production, and nourishing yin and clearing heat. Here we introduce Dendrobium planting techniques.
I. Dendrobium planting techniques
1. Site selection: in a semi-shaded, semi-sunny environment.
Dendrobium prefers to grow in a semi-shaded, semi-sunny environment. In areas with annual rainfall above 1000 mm, air humidity greater than 80%, and average January temperature above 8 degrees C, the host trees should be living trees such as yellow hornbeam, pear, and camphor trees with thick bark, longitudinal grooves, high water content, dense branches and leaves, and thick trunks. Stone plots should also be in cool, moist areas, and the stones should have moss growing on them and a small amount of humus on the surface.
2. Propagation: mainly by division.
Dendrobium is mainly propagated by division, generally carried out in spring. Select robust Dendrobium free of pests and diseases, cut off old stems over 3 years old for medicinal use, and use two-year-old new stems for propagation. During propagation, cut off overly long old roots, leaving 2-3 cm, separate the clumps, with each clump containing 2-3 stems, then plant. Methods of planting against stones and against trees can be used.
3. Management: watering, topdressing, pruning, etc.
If air humidity is too low after planting Dendrobium, water frequently to maintain moisture, and a sprayer can be used to water in the form of a mist. If the growing site is poor and infertile, attention should be paid to topdressing. The first time is around Qingming, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer mixed with pig and cow manure and river mud. The second time is around Lidong, using peanut cake, rapeseed cake, superphosphate, etc. mixed with river mud into a paste applied to the roots. Regularly prune the host trees to maintain a canopy density of about 60%. Before spring each year, pruning should also be carried out, cutting off dead stems, diseased stems, weak stems, and diseased roots.
4. Pests and diseases: spray pesticides for control.
Dendrobium diseases include black spot and anthracnose, and the pest includes the fern scale. Black spot occurs from March to May, damaging leaves and causing them to wither. It can be controlled by spraying 1000-times diluted 50% carbendazim 1-2 times. Anthracnose can occur from January to May, damaging leaves and stems. It can be controlled by spraying 1000-times diluted 50% carbendazim or 1000-times diluted 50% thiophanate-methyl 2-3 times. The fern scale parasitizes the leaf edges or undersides of plants, with late May as the peak hatching period. It can be killed by spraying 1000-times diluted 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate, or old branches with scale shells can be gathered and burned.
II. Which Dendrobium varieties are good for pot planting?
There are many varieties of Dendrobium, which can be ornamental or medicinal. Generally speaking, ornamental varieties are good for pot planting, because varieties that can produce brilliant flowers include Dendrobium loddigesii, Dendrobium officinale, Dendrobium hercoglossum, Dendrobium primulinum, Dendrobium chrysanthum, Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, Dendrobium linawianum, and others.
1. Dendrobium loddigesii: flowering period April-May. Each cluster has 1-2 flowers borne laterally on the upper part of leafy old stems. Flowers are white or purple-red, petals elliptical, lip nearly round, with the center golden yellow, the surrounding area light purple-red, the edges with short fringes, and both surfaces densely covered with short soft hairs.
2. Dendrobium officinale: flowering period March-June. Racemes usually emerge from the upper part of leafless old stems, with 2-3 flowers. Buds are ovate and pale white, sepals and petals are oblong-lanceolate and yellow-green, and the lip is ovate-lanceolate and white.
3. Dendrobium hercoglossum: flowering period May-June. There are usually several racemes, emerging from leafless old stems, often with 2-3 flowers. Buds are ovate-lanceolate, sepals and petals are light pink, petals are obovate-oblong, the lip is white, the rear lip is hemispherical, and the front lip is light pink.
4. Dendrobium primulinum: flowering period March-April. Racemes have 1-3 flowers, usually emerging from nodes on the upper part of leafless old stems. Sepals and petals are light rose-colored, petals are narrowly oblong, the lip is light yellow with light rose color, and the lip disk has purple-red veins.
5. Dendrobium chrysanthum: flowering period September-October. Umbels are nearly without peduncles, with every 2-6 flowers forming a cluster, borne laterally on the upper part of leafy stems. Flowers are yellow, petals are slightly concave and obovate, and the lip is concave, kidney-shaped or transversely oblong.
6. Dendrobium thyrsiflorum: flowering period April-May. Racemes are borne laterally on the upper ends of leafy old stems, densely bearing many flowers. Bud scales are pale white, sepals and petals are white, petals are nearly round, and the lip is golden yellow.
7. Dendrobium linawianum: flowering period April-May. Racemes emerge from the upper part of leafless old stems, with 2-4 flowers. Flowers are white, sometimes purple-red on the upper part, petals are elliptical, the lip is white with the upper part purple-red, and both sides of the base of the lip disk each have 1 purple-red band.
The above is an introduction to Dendrobium planting techniques and potted varieties. We hope it is useful to everyone.