Dendrobium anosmum have long fat canes and beautiful green alternating leaves, yet it’s the flowers and their exquisite fragrance and not the leaves that keep people excited about growing this orchid. Its botanical name= anosmum, actually means scentless…. I think that botanist was probably looking at a dried sample=for there is no mistaking the unique sweet heady fragrance that the anosmum has.
It is endemic and widespread throughout Southeast Asia. The comfortable temperature range for this orchid plant will be from the lower 60's to the low 90's. I know they can tolerate temperatures into the low 50's and possibly upper 40's for a short period of time by being left outdoors on my fire escape in the late fall. During their growing season, ideal temperatures would be 70's to 80's. Dendrobium anosmum benefit from a drop in temperatures (upper 50's to 60's) between December and January (dormant season) when I put it indoors on my south facing bay window. I give it a dry period (winter rest) by withholding fertilizer that will help in keeping the plants dormant so that they drop their leaves and delay keikis from emerging too early. If the new growth emerges early, blooming will produce lesser flowers, because the energy is now going to the new growth instead of the flowers. Humidity is also very important and should be kept high. In fact in the growing season, I water liberally sometimes twice a day if the temperatures outside is too warm.
If the Dendrobium anosmum does not go into dormancy, there will be less flowers or none at all that the next season's keikis will emerge before the buds and will compete with flower formation.
In conclusion: I keep my anosmum well watered, well fed, provide warmth and high humidity during its growing season. This will get their canes as long and as fat as possible. In its rest period, provide bright shaded light=lower the temperature and cut back on the watering and withhold fertilizer altogether to induce good flowering.
Dendrobium anosmum 'alba'
Threaded Mode
