This article discusses the care of the Dendrobium genus of orchids. For more general orchid advice and information, check out our 6-part How To Take Care of Orchids mini-series.

The Dendrobium genus consists of over a thousand orchid species which originate from Asia and Australasia and most are epiphytic, which means they attach themselves to and grow on other plants. Along with Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium Orchids are one of the easiest types of orchid to look after. In this article, I will discuss Dendrobium Orchid Care in the home and share a few tips for making sure you get the most out of your Dendrobium Orchids.

As a rule, Dendrobium Orchids like it hot, bright and dry.

Keep Dendrobiums Hot
In the daytime, they could be kept at temperatures around 70 to 90 degrees, the closer to 90 degees the better. At night the temperature shouldn't drop below 60.

Give Dendrobiums Lots of Light
An ideal location for Dendrobiums would be on an East or West facing window sill, so that it can benefit from lots of light in the morning or evening. South-facing windows are also suitable although you would have to ensure adequate shading to avoid the leaves burning in direct sunlight. Check out our article for more details about orchid lighting.

Keep Dendrobiums Dry
Don't take this too literally! Obviously all plants need water to live but orchids (especially Dendrobiums) are used to living in dry environments. They attach themselves to trees, plants and rocks and have to live off the water that runs down them.

A thorough watering around once a week is usually enough with an occasional misting from a sprayer. Make sure all excess water is drained after watering and let your Dendrobium get it's water from what is left over.

Summary
Dendrobiums are an excellent choice for a beginner orchid grower because of their pretty, long-lasting blooms and their durability. They are quite durable and forgetting to water them occasionally does not usually lead to an permanent damage. Often a little neglect is very good for them.