Light: Bright to moderate indirect light. Ideally, early morning direct light as in an east window. West windows are good provided direct sun is not on the orchid. Evening sun is OK. A south window with defused light or away from the direct sunlight. The foliage should be medium green color, indicating the orchid is getting enough light to flower.
Temperature: The ideal temperature during the day is 75° to 95°F. Night temperatures can range from 45° to 65°F at night.
Watering: Watering should be done in the morning hours. You can water heavy overhead, or soak potted orchid in the sink for ten minutes. In cold areas the water temperature should not be below 45°F. Water is an essential nutrient for plant development. In moderate light water once every 5 to 7 winter, and 3 to 4 days in summer. This may need to be increased in bright light conditions. When in doubt, check the bottom of the pot, if it looks dry, then water. Watering with ice cubes in NOT recommended.
Feeding: Dendrobiums are heavy feeders and require fertilizing every third watering. Use Gublers Pro Blend Orchid Food 19-8-16. This formula is exactly what we use to grow our Dendrobium nobiles. By feeding every third watering, you will be feeding more during the longer days of summer when the orchid is growing faster, and less in the shorter days of winter when the nobile is growing slower.
Repotting: Should be done once every 12 to 18 months. It is best to repot after the Dendrobium is done flowering. Plants that have overgrown their container should be potted into a suitable container the next size larger. You may choose any container, provided it has good bottom drainage. Plastic containers become too light in 8” sizes and larger, making your plant top heavy. We do not recommend pots with slits on the side. Transplant using Gublers Orchid Grow mix Coarse grade for containers four inch or larger, and fine grade for seedlings in three inch pots or smaller.
What to expect: Dendrobiums grow in an upright position with light green leaves and healthy white colored roots. They display their blooms vertically along the pseudobulb. At two years old canes normally lose their leaves during bud initiation. Buds begin to appear in December, and flowers start opening from January through March. Keeping the plants dry and cool in October should reward you with many flowers.
Dendrobiums and their relatives are epiphytes, naturally growing on rocks and trees. They store water and nutrients in a upright structure called a cane, which is a modified the Pseudobulb. Leaves are produced along the cane.