Dendrobium Kingianum species and hybrids such as Berry Oda - Cultivation

Culture of Dendrobium kingianum species and hybrids

Dendrobium Kingianum hybrids are neat, compact, attractive plants, even when not in bloom, and they are easy to grow and reward one with an array of beautiful, long lasting, fragrant flowers in shades of white, white with colored lip, yellow, and plain and splash petals in mauve, pink, and purple.

This plant will grow vegetatively at any temperature, any light, and any kind of watering and feeding.

If you wish to bloom to its fullest potential, then those true to the species type  MUST be grown cool (min night temp in autumn and winter below 50F 10C); maximum light; lots of water when growing.

Dendrobium kingianum grows normally down to 35F 2C (and will tolerate temps down to 29F -2C), so the species type in temperate climates can normally be grown outside in spring, summer and winter in full east sun.

After blooming, all keikis are removed, as well as old flower spikes, and the new developing keikis are left on as they will remain uniform in size and will increase the amount of flowers.

All dendrobiums will produce keikis, however kingianum varies from clone to clone, and within reason this has nothing to do with culture. This is in contrast to nobiles, which make excessive keikis with too much nitrogen, or not enough sunshine. Certain clones, produce multiple keikis and if these are not removed after blooming the keikis make keikis, and these make keikis and soon there is a veritable weed patch. The usual keiki after removal can be planted and will make a new growth, perhaps a keiki, and all will usually bloom the following season.

The pot is watered enough to keep it moist, and during hot weather this may be every day.

In winter grow the plant somewhere frostfree and withhold water is until buds start to develop (6-8 weeks). At this time spray the leaves once or twice a week, and when the buds can be recognized resume watering the pot, once a week. After the flowers open  resume watering to keep the plant evenly moist.

Some clones can be watered the entire year, and bloom well ; others behave as the book advises and must be dried out if they are to bloom.