Dendrobium linawianum

Dendrobium linawianum is native to China and Vietnam, thriving in subtropical broadleaf forests at elevations of 400–1,500 meters.

Features:

• Growth Habit: An epiphytic orchid with shiny, knobby, slightly flattened green canes and clustered foliage—part of a group often called the “flat-caned guys”.

• Bloom Size & Appearance: Each inflorescence bears 2–3 showy flowers, about 4–5 cm (1.6–2 in) wide. The petals are typically white with pink to purple edges or entirely purple—highly fragrant and produced from upper stem nodes in late winter to early spring.

Care Tips:

Light

• Provide bright, indirect light or moderate shade.

• Avoid harsh direct sun to prevent leaf burn.

Temperature & Seasonality

• Thrives in a wide range from hot to cool temperatures.

• Summer warmth encourages growth.

• A slightly drier winter rest (without extreme cold) helps trigger flowering.

Watering & Fertilization

• Growing Season (Summer):

  • Water liberally.

  • Fertilize regularly to promote robust growth.

• Winter Rest:

  • Reduce watering from late fall into early winter.

  • Withhold fertilizer during rest.

  • Resume with nitrogen-rich fertilizer when new growth begins in spring.

  • Switch to high-phosphorus fertilizer in late summer to support bud development.

Mounting & Medium

• Suitable for both mounting and pot culture.

• Use a well-draining medium such as bark, charcoal, or sphagnum blends.

• Mounting improves airflow and mimics natural epiphytic conditions.

Propagation

• Division: separate pseudobulbs with roots.

• Stem cuttings: cut sections with nodes and place in moist medium under high humidity.