Lawes' dendrobium

A medium-sized, tropical epiphytic orchid with up to 45cm long, cane-like stem. Bright green lance-shaped leaves are arranged along the nodes of young stems. Flowering stems only 5cm short, emerge from the upper nodes of old and mature leaf-less canes. The canes can repeatedly produce flowers for several years. The raceme carries one to six, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is 1.5cm wide and 2.5cm long. Flowers are very variable in colour - from white, pale or dark pink (or two-toned) to bright orange and red.

Grow in basket, in an epiphytic, medium grade, bark-based potting mix with added perlite, moss, or coir. As with many orchids, they grow best when the roots are slightly restricted. Therefore, avoid over-potting or frequent root disturbance. If necessary, re-pot plants in spring, when the new growth appears. Provide bright light conditions throughout the year. The average temperatures are 26-29°C during day and 16-18°C at night time, with an amplitude of 10°C between day and night. Plant requires frequent watering and relatively high humidity during spring and summer months and a slightly drier conditions in winter - reduce watering and feeding in October, but do not leave plant dry for long period of time. See indoor orchid cultivation

No pruning required. Remove spent flowers as necessary, but do not cut the whole cane unless completely shrivelled. Oldest canes may be removed as long as there are enough, younger, thick, leaf-bearing canes on the plant.

Propagation by seed is only possible in controlled laboratory environment. Mature plants may be divided when the plant overgrows the pot. Sideshoots (keiki) may develop on older canes - remove and pot them into sphagnum moss when the new roots are at least 2cm long.

May be susceptible to scale insects, aphids, mealybugs and red spider mite.

Generally disease-free.

Lawes' dendrobium

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