Dendrobium chryseum

Also known as: The Yellow Flowered Dendrobium or Dendrobium chryseum h.f. oculatum Dendrobium chryseum var. zhaojuense Dendrobium rivesii Dendrobium clavatum var. aurantiacum Dendrobium aurantiacum Dendrobium aurantiacum var. zhaojuense Dendrobium zhaojuense Dendrobium chryseum var. bulangense Aporum rivesii Dendrobium tibeticum Callista aurantiaca Dendrobium flaviflorum in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Bhutan India Thailand Yunnan - China

General Information

The Yellow Flowered Dendrobium is a medium to large sized sympodial cool to warm growing epiphytic or lithophytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Bhutan, India, Thailand, and China.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 40-75cm. Each new growth has numerous lance shaped oblong shaped leaves that grow to 10cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 40-75cm

Flowers

Numerous short lasting, fragrant blossoms appear during Summer and Spring

Blooming Season

• Spring
• Summer

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Sand

Care Notes

These orchids like to be watered regulary, especially during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered daily or even many times a day.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Climate

Grows at high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 41mm to 480mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 82% to 93%, highest in October and lowest in April. Temperature ranges from 4C to 22C, highest in July (17C to 22C) and lowest in January (4C to 10C).

Watering

These orchids prefer a wet-dry cycle between waterings, they should be watered frequently but only when the moisture is approaching dryness, where the pot feels light and/or the media looks dry. Keep an eye on mounted orchids in warm weather as they may dehydrate quickly.

Keep moisture levels up during hot weather as the plant is prone to dehydration

Fertiliser

Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer.

Potting

These plants are quite forgiving and will do well repotted ever 2-3 years. The mix should be coarse, well draining, and allow space for air to move and for roots to grow. 

Alternatively, these plants will also do well mounted to tree fern or cork slabs, or mounted to trees.

Best time for repotting or mounting the orchids is the end of winter when new growths start to appear. Avoid repotting during hot weather,