Dendrobium Lindleyi is one of the prettiest Dendrobium orchids. It is a must-have if you are looking to add some bright-colored flowers to your garden.
Our gardening experts have created this no-fail care and cultivation guide for you.
Contents
What Is Dendrobium Lindleyi?
Dendrobium Lindleyi is an epiphytic orchid found in northeast India to China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Under the Dendrobium family, this orchid belongs to the Callista section. Callista comes from the Greek word ‘Kallistos’, which means very beautiful.
You can find it by a few other common names: Dendrobium Aggregatum, Callista aggregata, Epidendrum aggregatum, Yellow Dendrobium, and Lindley’s dendrobium. Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel described it first in 1840.
– Size and Growth
Dendrobium Lindleyi is a dwarf or miniature orchid reaching a height of 4 to 8 inches. It has short, thick pseudobulbs that are clustered together at the base. The pseudobulbs store water and help in providing nutrients to the rest of the plant.
The pseudobulbs can shrivel in the winter season, but that is entirely normal. They will become plump again as regular watering is resumed in spring. A fully-grown Dendrobium Lindleyi has 10 to 15 flower spikes. The stems are 2 to 4 inches long and carry oblong, leathery leaves.
– Leaves
Dendrobium Aggregatum has short, thick leaves. The leaves are 1 to 3 inches long and last for about three years.
They are a dark green color when kept in shade whereas light green shade indicates too much sun exposure. Unlike other Dendrobium orchids, Dendrobium Lindleyi does not shed its leaves.
– Flowers
Dendrobium Aggregatum is known for its bright, yellow blooms that are just the right amount of fragrant with their fragrance similar to beeswax. Each flower spike is 10 to 12 inches long and bears about 10 to 12 flowers.
The inflorescences start to emerge towards the end of the winter season. The 1 to 2 inches wide flowers bloom the most in the spring season and last up to two weeks. They are not long-lasting, but the stunning, rich yellow color compensates for the time.
Dendrobium flowers are a light yellow shade when young and turn darker as they age. In some varieties, the petals may be white or orange. The honey-like fragrance is maximum in the morning and evening.
Dendrobium Lindleyi Care and Culture: Its Growth Requirements
It is not fussy at all. Read on to find out its exact growth requirements below.
– Light Requirements
Dendrobium Lindleyi needs a lot of indirect, filtered sunlight throughout the year. Bright light is the key to successfully bloom this orchid as it loves direct morning and evening sunlight.
It can tolerate direct sunlight but avoid placing it in the harsh noon sunlight as it can cause leaf burn. If you are keeping your orchid indoors, place it in a spot where it receives the brightest light throughout the day. Curtain filtered sunlight during noons would be fine. You can also grow your orchid under artificial lights, but it is impossible to make them bloom under grow lights.
– Water Requirements
Dendrobium Lindleyi loves to get wet in the rainy season. So during the active growth period from spring to late summer, provide abundant water. During the rest period in the winter season, reduce the watering considerably. As autumn comes, reduce the watering and reduce it further in the winter months. Allow the plant to dry in between waterings, more so during the rest period.
Dendrobium Aggregatum needs a winter rest period of about two months. So watering once a week works well for the plant if it is in a pot and twice a week if it is mounted on cork or fern. With a proper and frequent watering schedule, make sure to keep your orchid in an airy spot. If your orchid does not sit in a well-ventilated space, its roots will rot. Abundant watering with good air circulation is the key to a healthy Dendrobium Aggregatum.
– Soil Mix
Dendrobium Lindleyi grows well both in bark chips and when mounted on a cork or wooden slab. Since it is an epiphytic orchid, it means that it will grow quite well when mounted on any wooden surface.
There is no need to add sphagnum moss while mounting it. If you simply tie it to the slab using wires, the roots will attach themselves to the slab after a few days. While mounting your orchid, ensure that you water it frequently as the exposed roots dry out faster. So, on hot and dry days, you might need to water your orchid twice a day. Keep the moisture level high by misting the plant daily.
If you are planting your orchid in a pot, you can use clay, terracotta, or plastic pots. Plastic pots must have vertical drainage holes for air circulation. Clay and terracotta pots are good at absorbing excess water and help in avoiding waterlogged conditions. Use bark chips to make a loose Dendrobium potting mix. It also does well in hanging coir baskets.
– Temperature
In spring and summer, Dendrobium Lindleyi needs an average daytime temperature of 75 to 80 F and an average nighttime temperature of 66 to 70 F. In winter, it grows well with an average daytime temperature of 70 to 80 F and an average nighttime temperature of 50 to 55 F.
With a suitable temperature, your blooms can also last beyond two weeks. Do not let your orchid sit outside in temperatures below 40 F. It is extremely sensitive when it comes to frost.
For Dendrobium Lindleyi to bloom abundantly, it needs a dry, winter rest period. The rest period helps in initiating Dendrobium flowering when spring arrives. If your plant does not get the rest period, in the next season, it will produce keikis instead of flowers. During this rest period, watering and fertilization should be kept to an absolute minimum.
– Humidity
Dendrobium Aggregatum loves humid conditions to grow well. It needs above 80 percent humidity level to grow well in summer and spring and 65 to 70 percent during winter. Try to maintain humidity around your orchid by keeping a humidifier or regularly spritzing around the plant. If maintaining humidity is a problem for you, avoid mounting your orchid. Instead, plant it in a mix of bark chips and perlite in a pot or basket.
– Fertilizer Requirements
Dendrobium Aggregatum needs regular fertilization during the growing period. Use a liquid orchid fertilizer and feed one-fourth to one-half of the recommended dose mentioned on the label. You can also use NPK 20:20:20 fertilizer. Mix one spoon in one-liter water and spray it once every two weeks from spring to late summer.
During the spring and summer months, a nitrogen-rich fertilizer and a phosphorus-rich fertilizer during autumn work well for this orchid’s growth.
Repotting Dendrobium Lindleyi
Dendrobium Lindleyi does not need frequent repotting. You may need to repot your orchid, especially when it has outgrown the pot. When the substrate starts to decompose, the plant needs to be repotted in a new soil mix.
While repotting, remove the dead flower spikes, if any. Gently take out the orchid, cut off dead roots, and wash it properly to remove dead and decayed parts. In a new soil mix of bark chips, place the plant and water it thoroughly. If the plant is too big, you can divide the plant by placing the smaller orchids in other pots. Before dividing the plant, ensure that each small division must have at least five pseudobulbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does it take for Dendrobium Lindleyi to flower for the first time?
Dendrobium Lindleyi’s first flowering time varies but typically takes 2-3 years.
2. What are the nutritional benefits of Dendrobium Lindleyi?
Dendrobium Lindleyi is a good source of nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamins.
3. How to clean Dendrobium Lindleyi leaves?
Use a soft cloth and water to gently wipe Dendrobium Lindleyi’s leaves, taking care not to damage them.
Conclusion
Then Dendrobium Lindleyi looks gorgeous when it is in its full glory with blooms. The blooms are short-lived. So make sure whenever your orchid blooms, you enjoy them.
Let us sum up all the points you need to keep in mind before growing this beauty.
- Dendrobium Lindleyi or Dendrobium Aggregatum is an epiphytic orchid native to Southeast Asia.
- It has beautiful yellow flowers that bloom in the spring and summer months.
- It needs bright, indirect sunlight to bloom and grow well.
- Water your orchid abundantly during the growing season and reduce it in the winter season.
- In its natural habitat, the orchid grows epiphytically attached to trees and other plants.
- We recommend growing your orchid mounted on a cork or wooden slab or a tree bark instead of planting it in an orchid potting mix.
- It needs a winter rest period for two to three months before it begins to bloom in spring.
- It prefers a humidity level of above 80 percent in spring and summer and 60 to 65 percent in winter.
- Fertilize your orchid with a liquid orchid fertilizer during the active growth period and do not fertilize in winter.
- Repot your orchid when either it has outgrown the pot, or the soil has started to decompose.
- Spray your plant with Neem oil to get rid of pest and other insects.
We hope our care and cultivation guide has helped you with all the information you needed on Dendrobium Lindleyi so you can add these showy flowers to your orchid collection.
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