Dendrobium as a cut flower Called Singapore orchids in the UK and Florida orchids in the USA these inexpensive elegant orchids are wonderful in a wide range of floral designs.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• Full buds at the tip of the stem
• Buds that don’t look crêpy or translucent, which have probably been in a flower fridge or cooler too long
• Flowers at the base looking fresh and not faded
COLOURS
• Green, purple, white, pink, pale pink
HOW LONG DO THEY LAST
• About one week
HOW TO ARRANGE THEM
• On the stem: in shower bouquets, cascades, contemporary designs
• Individually: in floral crowns, corsages, floral jewelry
Dendrobium as a houseplant
Flowering for 8 weeks or more a year and requiring minimal maintenance, Dendrobium houseplants offer excellent value for money. In the wild Dendrobium often grows as an epiphytic orchid on rocks or in trees without drawing nutrients from them.
The roots obtain those nutrients from the air, so pot orchids are therefore planted in well-drained, airy soil or bark. The best-known is Dendrobium nobile with idiosyncratic flowers emerging from a sturdy stem with scales and leaves – a torch of flowers with beautiful patterns.