Dendrobium Nobile: Caring For The Bamboo Orchid In 5 Questions

With its green stems covered in flowers, the Dendrobium nobile truly deserves its nickname of bamboo orchid. This family of orchids native to Asia requires special care to thrive and bloom year after year. We will explain how to care for a bamboo orchid in 5 questions.

1- Which location should be chosen for a Dendrobium nobile orchid?

The average temperature of our apartments, around 18°C to 20°C, is quite suitable for orchids of the Dendrobium nobile family.

Contrary to what one might think, the bamboo orchid does not fear the cold. Provided that watering is stopped below 10°C, it can survive at a temperature of 5°C in winter.

Regarding brightness, this type of orchid needs a lot of light to ensure its growth and flowering.

You can place it near a window, provided you protect it from direct sunlight in summer. Consider filtering the light with a sheer curtain to avoid burns on your orchid's foliage.

2- How often should a Dendrobium nobile orchid be watered?

The watering frequency of Dendrobium nobile depends on the temperature and light of the room.

In an apartment heated between 18°C and 20°C, it is recommended to water the bamboo orchid every 8 to 10 days on average.

In winter, if you keep this orchid around 10°C, you can reduce watering to only twice a month.

3- Should a Dendrobium nobile orchid be fertilized?

To ensure the proper growth and flowering of your Dendrobium nobile, it is recommended to provide it with fertilizer low in nitrogen throughout the year, except in summer.

The canes of the bamboo orchid grow from spring and reach maturity by the end of August. This is why the supply of fertilizer must be stopped in August.

4- When should you repot a Dendrobium nobile orchid?

It is advisable to repot the Dendrobium nobile every two years on average. Repotting should always be done after flowering.

To repot your bamboo orchid, you will need a pot with a diameter 2 cm larger than the previous pot and a special orchid substrate based on pine bark.

Here is the step-by-step repotting method:
• Soak the pine bark in water.
• Remove the orchid from its previous pot and cut off any dead roots.
• You can also take this opportunity to remove one or two of the oldest pseudobulbs.
• Place the orchid in its new pot, on its new substrate, and press down firmly to stabilize it.

In the month following repotting, mist the surface of the pot every day. You can then resume watering at the usual pace.

Note: you must wait until your bamboo orchid has more than 7 or 8 canes before dividing it.

You can also propagate this orchid by taking the “keikis,” which are the shoots that spontaneously appear on the upper nodes of the cane during spring.

Let these baby orchids grow in the summer and wait until their roots reach 7 to 10 cm before separating them from the mother plant. Simply soak the roots of these plantlets in water and repot them to obtain a new bamboo orchid.

5- How to make a Dendrobium nobile orchid bloom again?

To bloom again, the Dendrobium nobile needs a cold period. It is advisable to place your bamboo orchid outside in September-October so that it benefits from cool nighttime temperatures for about 45 days.

However, you should ensure to place it in partial shade and sheltered from rain so that it does not suffer from direct sunlight or excess humidity.

As soon as the flower buds appear, bring the orchid indoors. Its flowers should bloom in January or February. To prolong its flowering, it is preferable to water it sparingly and, if possible, to keep it cool at night, between 10°C and 15°C.