Dendrobium aphrodite

Dendrobium aphrodite is a charming epiphytic orchid native to the Tennasserim Range in Myanmar and Thailand, typically found at elevations around 1,400 meters.

Features:

• Growth Habit: Slender, branching, suberect stems that are strongly swollen at the nodes.

• Leaves: A few oblong-obtuse, deciduous leaves approximately 10 cm in length.

• Flowers: White sepals and petals with a large white lip featuring a prominent orange spot inside. The blooms are delicately fragrant and appear in spring on an axillary, 1 to 2-flowered inflorescence that arises from the upper leaf nodes of leafless canes. These flowers can bloom for several seasons, typically from March through May, provided the plant receives a very dry and cool winter rest until the buds appear, followed by heavy watering and fertilization.

Care Tips:

• Light: Provide bright, indirect light. Avoid direct midday sun, which can scorch the leaves.

• Temperature: Maintain temperatures between 20°C and 25°C during the day, with a slight drop at night.

• Humidity: Ensure high humidity levels, ideally between 60% and 80%.

• Watering: Water generously during the growing season, allowing the medium to dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering during the winter rest period.

• Fertilization: Apply a balanced orchid fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season. Reduce or eliminate fertilization during the winter rest period.

• Rest Period: After the canes have matured, provide a dry and cool rest period to encourage flowering. This rest period is crucial for the plant to bloom in the following spring.