How to Care for Home-Grown Dendrobium to Make It Bloom
This article provides a detailed explanation of how to care for home-grown Dendrobium to make it bloom, including temperature, lighting, and fertilization knowledge. Next, the editor will introduce it to everyone.
The flowers of Dendrobium have a unique beauty, with a long blooming period for individual flowers, making it a nice ornamental flower. By mid-April, potted Dendrobium gradually enters the blooming period. My Dendrobium already has visible flower buds at the top, and I estimate it will bloom in May. Therefore, if you want to enjoy the flowers, you need to adjust the care methods in time to encourage the potted Dendrobium to produce more flower buds and bloom more! Here are some suggestions on pre-blooming care for potted Dendrobium, welcome flower enthusiasts to leave comments and discuss.
Keep the Environmental Temperature Stable
Whether potted Dendrobium can bloom is closely related to the temperature of the growing environment. The temperature range that is generally suitable for Dendrobium to bloom is between 15~28 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is too low or too high, it is not easy to differentiate flower buds. Therefore, if the temperature at home is within this range, it means that the potted Dendrobium has met the basic conditions for blooming and can be encouraged to bloom. If the temperature at home is not within this range, it means that the potted Dendrobium has not yet met the basic conditions for blooming, so you can wait a bit longer. Of course, this temperature range is not rigid and can be adjusted according to weather conditions. The temperature here has recently been between 10~26 degrees Celsius, and the Dendrobium has already grown flower buds, which I believe is mainly due to the stable temperature and mostly sunny days.
Adequate Light Time
Whether potted Dendrobium can bloom is also related to the lighting conditions. Before the flower buds differentiate, it is necessary to ensure sufficient light, as insufficient light makes it difficult for flower buds to differentiate. However, adequate light does not mean placing it directly in a well-lit area to bask, but rather should be appropriately shaded to allow it to grow in a low-light environment. This can meet the light requirements without causing the leaves to turn yellow. The reason is that Dendrobium prefers shade, and too much light can cause yellowing leaves or direct sunburn. Therefore, the daily light time for potted Dendrobium before flower bud differentiation should not be less than five hours, with about 50% shading. My Dendrobium is placed under the climbing roses, receiving direct sunlight before 10 am, and semi-shaded the rest of the day until around 6 pm.
Apply Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizer Appropriately
If the light and temperature meet the blooming conditions, but the potted Dendrobium still does not grow flower buds, it is best to apply a little phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote blooming, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate. There are two options for applying potassium dihydrogen phosphate to Dendrobium: one is when the Dendrobium is indoors, with poor ventilation conditions, you can use a solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate at 2000~3000 times to water the roots, once every two weeks. The other is when the Dendrobium is outdoors, with good ventilation, you can use a solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate at 2000~3000 times to water the roots or spray on the leaves to promote blooming. The above fertilization is for Dendrobium that has already adapted to the pot. If your Dendrobium is new and has not yet adapted, it is not recommended to fertilize. Wait until it starts growing after adapting before considering fertilization.
How to Care for Home-Grown Dendrobium to Make It Bloom
By following the above three points, wait for the potted Dendrobium to grow flower buds. Dendrobium flower buds usually grow in the upper part of one-year-old old branches, and three-year-old old branches are more likely to bloom. Some Dendrobium old branches, even after losing all their leaves in spring, will burst into clusters of flowers. Therefore, if you see a bulge in the leaf axils of the upper part of the old branches of Dendrobium, it is likely to grow flower buds. Young branches less than one year old generally cannot bloom and, with good care, will become the main force for blooming next year.
When the potted Dendrobium grows flower buds, ensure adequate water supply, stop fertilizing, shade 50%~70%, and wait for blooming. If the Dendrobium flower buds turn yellow and wither, and there has been no fertilization recently, mainly consider poor ventilation and root rot, increase ventilation, and slightly control watering. Many flower enthusiasts' potted Dendrobium only grows without blooming in spring, with thin and weak branches, which is mostly due to insufficient light and excessive watering. Like other plants, Dendrobium requires sufficient light before blooming, appropriate water control, and reasonable use of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to naturally bloom easily.
In southern regions, the blooming time of potted Dendrobium will be slightly earlier, with flowers appearing after the Qingming Festival. In northern regions, potted Dendrobium blooming will be a bit later, around mid-to-late April to mid-to-late May, when flowers will appear one after another. From the growth of flower buds to blooming, do not spray water on the leaves, but can spray more around and on the ground, as it may cause flower bud drop or flower rot. What suggestions do you have about pre-blooming care for Dendrobium? If you find it useful, give it a thumbs-up and follow me to learn more about flower care knowledge.
The above is a detailed introduction on how to care for home-grown Dendrobium to make it bloom and the importance of temperature, lighting, and fertilization, hoping to bring some flower knowledge to green plant enthusiasts.