Dendrobium williamsonii

Dendrobium williamsonii is a small, cool-to-intermediate-growing epiphytic orchid native to regions including Assam (India), southern China (Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan), Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It typically thrives at elevations between 600 and 1,400 meters in forests, where it grows on tree trunks.

Features:

• Flowers: The orchid produces waxy, fragrant flowers that bloom in late winter to early spring. Each flower features creamy white sepals and petals, with a pale ochre underside. The labellum is characterized by a large, three-lobed blotch of golden red (sometimes cinnamon red) on the disk.

• Growth Habit: This species has upright, elongate-fusiform, velvety stems that are many-leafed towards the apex. The leaves are oblong or lanceolate, velvety, and obscurely bilobed apically, with leaf sheaths densely covered with black hairs.

Care Tips:

• Light: Provide bright, diffused light, avoiding direct sunlight except in the early morning. The plant tolerates light levels between 25,000 and 50,000 lux without leaf scalding.

• Temperature: During summer, maintain daytime temperatures between 30–32°C (86–90°F) and nighttime temperatures around 22°C (72°F). In winter, day temperatures should be 28–31°C (82–88°F), with nights cooling to 11–13°C (52–55°F).

• Humidity: Maintain high humidity levels, around 80% for most of the year, dropping to about 60% during late winter and early spring. Inadequate humidity can inhibit growth and cause leaf yellowing and drying.

• Watering: Water regularly during the growing season (spring to summer), allowing the medium to dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering in winter to mimic the plant's natural dormancy period.

• Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing phase. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated during dormancy until new growth appears in the spring.

• Substrate and Mounting: Use a well-draining medium such as staghorn peat with crocks and charcoal at the bottom of the pot. Alternatively, mount the plant on cork or tree fern. Avoid overpotting; use the smallest pot that accommodates the plant.