Dendrobium victoriae reginae care infographicThe Dendrobium victoriae-reginae is known for its crown-like petals and beautiful, bright purple color, belongs to the Orchidaceae family.

Easily every garden enthusiast’s favorite, planting and growing the Dendrobium victoriae-reginae at home won’t have you fretting! It’s simple, easy, and oh so rewarding!

Here we bring you a concise guide covering the basics of identifying, planting, and caring for these unique orchids.

We have asked orchid experts to give us their best advice so that you can enjoy the beautiful bloom of these plants in your own beautiful home garden!

Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae

Also called the lovingly Queen Victoria’s orchids, these orchids are native to the highlands of the Philippines.

Being epiphytes, plants that grow best on the surface of another plant, they are found growing on larger moss-covered trees in nature.

These were described by August Loher in 1910 and became an instant hit in orchid shows due to their violently purple flowers and rich green foliage.

Having even a single pot of Dendrobium victoriae-reginae in your living space is sure to brighten the room, uplift the atmosphere, and give it the freshness we have all come to expect of orchids.

How Can You Identify Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae?

This beautiful plant is unique in appearance and catches the eye instantly, even from afar. Read on to find out how to identify it;

– The Plant

  • This orchid species is generally small in size, but some plants grow up to be a bit bigger. The average height, however, remains less than or around 10 inches.
  • It comprises thin, elongated pseudobulbs that usually clump together. These pseudobulbs are downward facing and carry several leaves and flowers. They rarely branch.

– The Flowers

The flowers of this plant are just the type to liven up your living spaces!

Dendrobium victoria reginae in the pot

 

  • The blooms occur in clusters of one to three flowers. Due to these clusters, the flowers often tend not to be completely open.
  • Each flower is 1.5 – 2 inches or 3 – 4 centimeters in diameter and contains two whorls of petals.
  • The petals are spade-shaped with a white base and a brilliant blue-violet apical region.
  • The flower’s color has been shown to vary with temperature and light.
  • The lip of the flower may be oval, concave, or flattened. It is identified with five lines that are either violet, dark blue-purple, or purple in color.

– Leaves

  • Each stem of the Dendrobium victoriae-reginae has about 12 leaves, each being 4 – 5 inches or 12 centimeters long.
  • You can single out the leaves by their papery texture and lanceolate shape, meaning they are undivided and tapering.
  • Based on apices, your orchids can grow two types of leaves;

Acute Leaves

These leaves have short and sharp points.

Acuminate Leaves

The leaf apex is long and extended.

When Does the Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae Bloom?

Queen Victoria’s orchids bloom to their fullest during the months of May to June.

However, you can keep these orchids in bloom with the proper amount of care and watering throughout the year.

The fall-winter period is the usual rest period for this orchid.

How to Grow Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae at Home

Have you been wanting to try growing these beautiful orchids at home but been too daunted to try so? Don’t worry, for we’ve got you covered!

  1. First of all, Queen Victoria’s orchids have very narrow, thin stems, so it’s best to grow them in baskets, slabs, or hydrologs with a wire hanger that favors their stems hanging downwards.
  2. If potted, you will need to use small-sized pots and later on uphold the stems through stakes.
  3. Secondly, repot them early in the spring. This is most conducive to their growth because new roots begin to grow at this time.
  4. This orchid is an ideal houseplant for those of us who live in pretty tight quarters. They grow best in a shaded environment. Both artificial light and natural indirect light are suitable for these orchids.
  5. From spring to fall, water Victoriae-reginae abundantly. Then gradually decrease the amount of watering in winters to about once every two weeks.

With only a fraction of your time and attention, you can get your Dendrobium Victoriae to flower more than once per year. Enjoy their beautiful bloom almost all year round, and don’t get too worried if the stalks shrivel a bit during winters: it’s perfectly natural!

Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae Care

– Temperature

Dendrobium victoriae thrives on an average daytime temperature of 66 – 70 Fahrenheit or 19 – 22 Centigrade and a nighttime temperature of 50 – 55 Fahrenheit or 10 – 13 Centigrade.

– Humidity

  • This orchid variety requires a humidity level above 50 percent at all times.
  • In fact, an average of 85 – 90 percent humidity level per year has been reported as ideal.
  • If you struggle with maintaining such high humidity levels, our florists suggest buying a humidifier or humidity trays to increase humidity around your orchid artificially.

– How Much Light Should I Expose My Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae To?

These are among the perfect house plants in this regard.

  • Give your dendrobium reginae only a medium exposure to light. Our florists recommend light of around 15,000 to 20,000 lux or about 1,500 to 3,500 foot candles.
  • You will need to put these orchids under filtered or shaded light. Excessive light will cause premature leaf fall.
  • In fact, this plant does better under artificial light. It’s best to put these indoors to brighten up your living space!

– The Ideal Water for Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae:

This plant loves rainwater. It loves distilled water or reverses osmosis water second best.

Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae Rainwater

However, if you cannot spare either, then common tap water with pH 7.5 or lower is recommended.

– How Much Should You Water Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae Orchids?

As a beginner, watering seems like a confusing task: how much is too much? Or how frequently should orchids be watered?

We bring you the watering schedule that is ideal for these house plants.

  • From Spring to Fall

This is the growth period for your orchids. Give them plenty of water to keep them moist. Take care not to soak the substrate, as overwatering has been observed to produce rot in roots and infections within the substrate.

  • During Winter Months

In winter, gradually decrease watering to once every two weeks.

– The Right Fertilizer for Queen Victoria’s Dendrobiums

Fertilizer is just as important as water and light for plants. Read ahead to find out which is the best one for this orchid.

  • If you are watering your orchids with rainwater, distilled water, and reverse osmosis water, then use a manufactured fertilizer to work well with these types of watering methods. Use only one-fourth or one-half of the usual orchid fertilizer, and your plant would be good to go.
  • If your orchid is planted in bark, you should use a fertilizer every time you water it. If it is planted in moss or slab, fertilize every fourth or fifth time you water. This is because moss contains enough nutrients, and you don’t want to overdo the nutrients with these orchids.
  • Every month, it is vital to flush your orchid substrate with clear water. This is in order to prevent fertilizer salt build-up in it.

– Do I Need to Regularly Prune and Groom Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae?

Frankly speaking, who has the time for grooming and pruning their plants these days?

We know most of you drop your idea of setting up a home garden here. Whether you’re just too busy or just too lazy, we’ve got good news!

Queen Victoria’s dendrobiums don’t really need any particular kind of grooming.

Simply remove dead and dry leaves from the stems or around the pot.

You can mist, clean, or wipe your orchids gently if you like, but it’s not necessary.

– What to Do During the Dormancy Period of Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae?

  • Dendrobium victoriae-reginae remains slightly dormant from fall throughout winters.
  • During this time, our florists recommend watering only once every two weeks.

Dormancy Period of Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae

  • Fertilization should be limited to adding one-fourth to one-half dosage of your usual fertilizer every third time you water your pot.
  • The plant may shrivel a bit during its dormant period. This is normal and not a cause of any concern at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long do the flowers of Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae last?

The flowers of Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae typically last for 4-6 weeks, but the exact duration can vary based on factors such as temperature and light conditions.

2. Can you grow Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae from seed?

Yes, it is possible to grow Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae from seed, but it requires specific conditions such as a sterile environment and proper nutrients for successful germination.

3. How do you maintain the shape of Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae?

To maintain the shape of Dendrobium Victoriae-Reginae, regular pruning is essential. Cut back the stems after the plant has finished flowering to encourage new growth and maintain the desired shape.

Conclusion

Now that we have the basics of growing these splendid violet orchids let’s retrace our steps and recapitulate everything we have learned so far.

  • Dendrobium victoriae-reginae is a medium-sized orchid that grows to be only 10 inches tall.
  • The flowers of this orchid are violet-white and can bloom throughout the year.
  • It is an indoor plant that thrives on shaded or artificial light.
  • You will need to provide Dendrobium victoriae with high humidity levels all year round.
  • During the growth period from spring to summer, copiously water these orchids.
  • Rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water is preferably advised.
  • Use a good fertilizer regularly and be on the lookout for pests and insects.

 

Dendrobium victoriae-reginae is very easy to grow and requires very little regular maintenance. On top of that, they also look dazzling and will brighten up whichever space you will put them in. So revise whatever you have learned here and enjoy this beautiful plant!

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