Dendrobium margaretae
General Information
Dendrobium margaretae is a sympodial orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae.
Plant Description
Sympodial. Grows to 3cm. Each new growth has a single elliptic leaf that grows to 0.6-1.6cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 0.5-1.5cm. The plant can form a mat over time
Climate
Grows at high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 51mm to 272mm per day, heaviest in September and lightest in December. Humidity ranges from 67% to 74%, highest in September and lowest in February. Temperature ranges from 12C to 24C, highest in April (14C to 24C) and lowest in January (12C to 23C).
Watering
These orchids prefer a constant supply of moisture, with a slight drying out between waterings. Saucers can be placed under pots to retain moisture during hot weather, however the saucers should be removed or let to dry every 1-2 weeks to prevent rot. Keep an eye on the plant especially in hot weather and look for cues of under/overwatering and adjust accordingly.
Keep moisture levels up during hot weather as the plant is prone to dehydrationFertiliser
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.
Use balanced fertiliser year round. Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round.Potting
Use water retentive media such as moss to prevent roots from drying out quickly Repotting is best done in a pot the same size or only slightly larger than the previous one.