Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher gx

A large-sized, tropical, evergreen orchid with long, upright, cane-like stems. Stems (pseudobulbs) carry alternate, oval, dark green leaves. The leaves are arranged along the nodes of the whole length of the stem. Upright or arching flowering stems up to cm long emerge from the nodes of mature leafed or leafless stems and bear 10 to 30 flowers. The flowers are 6cm large, long-lasting. Petals and sepals are spirally twisted along the whole length. Petals are upward facing, under 90° angle, dark purple or brown. Sepals are usually paler, lip is dark pink or purple.

Grow 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. Provide bright light conditions throughout the year. The average temperatures are 25-30°C during day and 16-20°C at night time, with an amplitude of 8-10°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.

Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher gx

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