Dendrobium moniliforme is a plant that is indigenous to Japan and has been grown there for centuries. This species was among the first in the genus Dendrobium to be described. These plants are of the Matsushima kind, and in the spring they bloom profusely with pink or white flowers that last until the fall.
It is frequently utilized as food and medicine throughout Asia and is commonly referred to as the necklace-shaped Dendrobium. According to certain research, the herb may be able to treat osteoporosis. It is a member of the Orchidaceae family and the Dendrobium genus.
Size and Growth Dendrobium moniliforme Orchid
A tiny to large orchid called Dendrobium moniliforme thrives in mountainous rainforests as an epiphyte and lithophyte. It has cylindrical, tall stems that grow in compact, little bunches.
The stems are purple-green, have many nodes, and are broader in the middle. The stems of the plant mature and become yellow. The stems can grow up to 12 inches long.
In its natural environment, the necklace-shaped dendrobium grows as a lithophyte on rocks and an epiphyte on tree branches in temperate broad-leaf forests.
Leaves
The leaves of dendrobium orchids are lanceolate, obtuse, and typically 1 to 2 inches long. Depending on the methods used for growing, you can also discover leaves with different colors.
Because it is a deciduous orchid, it loses all of its leaves every year and needs a rest before it can bloom again. It prefers a cool winter resting season with minimal fertilizer and water use. Towards the conclusion of the winter, new leaves begin to grow.
The best care tips for Dendrobium moniliforme have been provided by our gardening specialists.
Flowers
Perennial Dendrobium moniliforme is well known for its colorful blossoms. From January to the end of summer, the plant blooms. One to three blooms emerge from the nodes of older canes as it blooms in clusters.
The labellum, or lip, is green with brownish-purple dots, and the blossoms are white. They have a fragrant, rosy scent with a yellow patch at the base of the lip. The plant comes in a wide range of hybrid variants, and the blooms are available in a variety of hues.
The orchid Dendrobium moniliforme is not difficult and frustrating. It grows well with little fertilizer, just like other deciduous orchids, especially in the winter. Before planting it, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Dendrobium Moniliforme Care
To learn more about how to take care of a location, such as its needs for light and water, the appropriate temperature, the proper potting mix, and the fertilization plan, refer to our care tips.
Light
Although they will still thrive in lower light, Dendrobium moniliforme, also known as Choseiran or Sekkoku in Japan, prefers moderate to bright light levels, from 2000 to 3500 foot-candles. Keep the plants about 6′′ away from the fluorescent light tubes if you are growing under them. Grow roughly 4 feet (1 meter) away from the fixture when exposed to high-intensity lighting. On windowsills with east, south, or west exposure, this plant can be grown. In the summer, plants can be grown outside under filtered sunlight.
Temperature
Dendrobium moniliforme grows well in both cold and heat. The difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows can be as much as 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though daytime highs in the fall and winter might dip below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, plants should maintain a dry environment. For plants to blossom well in the spring, they must be exposed to temperatures in the 50s or lower for at least a few weeks. Plants will grow well without a cold season but yield fewer flowers. In Japan, cultivars with lovely leaves may occasionally be kept heated to minimize leaf drop, despite the fact that doing so prevents flowering.
Water
If at all possible, use pure water, such as reverse osmosis water, spring water, or rainfall. Use only naturally softened water. Use more water and fertilizer in the spring and summer when the plants are growing and blooming, and less during the cooler winter months.
Give plants a dry winter by letting them totally dry out between waterings to promote blossoming. Well-watered plants typically produce keikis rather than flowers in the spring. As with other orchids, be sure to utilize calcium and magnesium supplements if using rain, spring, or reverse osmosis water.
Fertilizer
The plant Dendrobium moniliforme does not consume a lot of fertilizer. Even so, fertilizer is essential for encouraging flowering.
Fertilizing during the plant’s active development phase can enhance its health and encourage more blooms each year. These plants demand extra water and fertilizer in the spring and summer when they are producing new canes and leaves.
During the summer and spring, treat your plant once a week or every two weeks with a liquid-based orchid fertilizer. Apply a phosphorus-rich fertilizer in the fall, and a nitrogen-rich fertilizer from spring until summer.
Since there is no new growth during the colder months, it does not require fertilizers. Whenever new growth starts to show or at the start of spring, you can start fertilizing the plant again.
Flowering
Late winter or early spring are the best seasons for Dendrobium moniliforme to bloom, though it can also bloom again in late summer. There are one or two flowers in each inflorescence, and a cane may have multiple inflorescences. Although they can sometimes be seen in pink or yellow, the fragrant blossoms are typically white or cream in hue.
Potting/Mounting
If in moss, repotting should be done annually, ideally in the spring or early summer. Pots made of clay, plastic, or net will work. Closed pots won’t need to be watered as often, but I’ve discovered that when they dry out more quickly, such when mounted or grown in mesh pots, the plants grow better and have fewer keikis. I’ve had a lot of success mounting this species.
Japanese people typically grow As we see fukiran potted, Dendrobium moniliforme are mounded in moss. Mounds, as opposed to densely packed sphagnum balls, are hollow. Although I’ve had wonderful luck with this method of growth, I have also seen some truly stunning specimen-sized plants that were grown in bark or that were directly mounted on stone.
Soil Combination
In pots, Dendrobium moniliforme require excellent drainage. It thrives in a potting mixture made of perlite or charcoal and staghorn peat. Dendrobium moniliforme should be grown in small pots because it dislikes big containers. Depending on the size of the plant, place it in the smallest pot possible.
Sphagnum moss can also be used to mount your plant on a piece of cork. However, compared to plants that are grown in pots, mounted and hung plants generally require more frequent watering. Regularly replace the sphagnum moss, don’t forget. Only clean, undigested old moss that has not yet disintegrated should be used.
Humidity
During its growing season from spring to summer, Dendrobium moniliforme requires humidity levels of between 80 and 90 percent. It can withstand a humidity level of 65 percent throughout the winter when the humidity level drops.
Higher temperatures should also result in greater humidity levels. The secret to the correct growth of Dendrobium moniliforme is high humidity and excellent ventilation.
The necklace-shaped Dendrobium’s growth is hampered by dry air. Its leaves begin to progressively yellow and drop off. Maintain humidity and air movement around the roots in the summer, and as the temperature drops in the winter, minimize humidity and air movement requirements.
Conclusion
Dendrobium moniliforme
The plant for you is Dendrobium moniliforme if you enjoy beautiful and magnificent blossoms. It is resilient and resistant to harsh temperatures.
Let’s review what we already know about this stunning orchid.
- An epiphytic orchid species called Dendrobium moniliforme is native to numerous Asian nations.
- It is a deciduous orchid, which means that it only loses all of its leaves once a year and requires less watering and fertilization over the winter.
- From early winter to late summer, its colorful and fragrant blooms are in bloom. It enjoys shaded environments with filtered sunshine for growth.
- Water your plant when the soil starts to dry out a little, a lot in the summer, and less in the fall and winter.
- Use staghorn peat combined with perlite or charcoal to maintain the potting mixture’s ability to drain efficiently.
- To prevent root rot and to keep the airflow going, choose a container with drainage holes.
- It thrives in the 75 to 77 degree Fahrenheit range during the summer and 52 to 57 degree Fahrenheit range during the winter.
- In the summer, it prefers humidity between 80 and 90 percent, and in the winter, it prefers about 65 percent.
- When new roots and growth appear, repot your orchid.
- Throughout the growing season, fertilize your plant with an orchid fertilizer once a week.
- If new roots start to appear or the substrate begins to deteriorate, repot the plant as soon as possible.
We really hope that our care instructions have allayed any plant-related questions.
What are you waiting for now that you are aware of the gorgeous necklace-shaped Dendrobium? Get one and spread its royal scent across the garden.
