Dendrobium virgineum

Dendrobium virgineum is native to moist cloud forests of Myanmar, eastern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, where it typically thrives at elevations below 1,600 meters.

Features:

• Growth Habit: A medium-sized epiphyte (or lithophyte) that grows to about 30–40 cm in height, with slender, cylindrical canes and numerous deep-green, elliptic-ovate, bilobed leaves covered in tiny black hairs.

• Flowers: Produced in late summer to fall, a short raceme carries 4–6 fragrant flowers, each around 3.75–4 cm across. The lip often features an orange spot and sometimes red veining.

Care Tips:

• Light: Provide bright, indirect light. Avoid hot direct sunlight which can scorch leaves.

• Temperature: Thrives in warm to cool conditions. Ideal daytime: 20–30 °C; nighttime: a slight drop by 6–10 °C is beneficial.

• Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity (~60–83%), especially during growing season.

• Watering: Keep the medium consistently moist, allowing slight drying between waterings. During winter or drought, reduce frequency—but do not let it remain bone dry.

• Substrate/Mounting: Thrives mounted on cork or tree fern (with daily watering in warm weather), or in a loose, fast-draining bark mix.

• Fertilizer: During active spring growth, use half-strength orchid fertilizer weekly. Apply high-nitrogen fertilizer in mid-spring to summer, switching to high-phosphorus until autumn to encourage flowering.

• Rest Period: As autumn progresses and new growths mature, gradually reduce watering. In winter, allow the plant to dry slightly between waterings and minimize fertilization until spring.

• Repotting: Best done at the start of spring when new roots emerge. Use a coarse, well-draining mix or remount as needed.

• Resilience: This species is notably forgiving—recovering well from stress if provided consistent care; however, sudden changes (like abrupt repotting or temperature spikes) can cause setbacks.