Dendrobium crystallinum

Dendrobium crystallinum is native to parts of Southeast Asia, including northeast India (Assam, Manipur), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and southern China (Yunnan, Hainan).

Features:

• Growth Form
  It features slender, pendulous or upright pseudobulbs (30–60 cm long, ~8 mm diameter) with 2–4 soft, lanceolate leaves arranged distichously on the upper portion. The leaves are deciduous in winter. The species nickname “crystallinum” refers to the crystalline papillae on its anther cap.

• Flowers
  Blooming in spring to summer, it produces short inflorescences bearing 1–3 very fragrant flowers (~5 cm across). The petals and sepals are primarily white with purple or magenta tips; the lip is white or yellow with an orange base.

Care Tips:

• Light
  Provide plenty of bright but indirect light (~15,000–40,000 lux). Early morning sun is beneficial; avoid harsh midday rays—especially in summer, when shade is recommended by 10 a.m. In winter, exposure may extend until ~11:30 a.m..

• Temperature

  • Summer: Day ~25–26 °C, Night ~21 °C (4–6 °C differential).

  • Winter: Day ~27–30 °C, Night ~16–17 °C (13 °C differential).
    The orchid can tolerate brief exposures down to ~0 °C if completely dry, though a minimum of ~10 °C is generally advised during winter rest.

• Humidity
  Maintain high humidity—~80% from late spring to autumn, and ~60% in winter/spring. Too dry conditions inhibit growth and may lead to yellowing or drying leaves.

• Watering & Rest Period

  • Summer: Water frequently; ensure good drainage and allow excess to flow through the pot to avoid root rot.

  • Winter: Reduce watering, allowing slight drying between sessions. Mist lightly to maintain humidity during rest.

• Substrate & Repotting
  Use staghorn peat, along with crocks or charcoal in the pot bottom for drainage.
  Repot only when necessary—such as compacted substrate, salinization, or cramped growth—ideally right after flowering when new roots emerge.

• Fertilizer
  Apply a ½ to ¼ strength orchid fertilizer weekly. Use a high-nitrogen formula during spring to mid-summer growth, switching to high-phosphorus into autumn to encourage blooming.

• Winter Rest
  During short-day, low-light winter periods, reduce both watering and fertilization. Keep the plant just moist enough to prevent excessive shriveling, then resume regular care when new growth appears in spring.