Dendrobium senile is native to Laos, Tenasserim region in Myanmar, Ranong area on the Thai peninsula and northern and eastern Thailand. They grow at heights of 500-1200 m...
Dendrobium senile also called as The White Haired Dendrobium, Old Man Orchid, Callista senilis, is a species of the genus Dendrobium. This species was described by C.S.P.Parish & Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1865.
IDENTIFY DENDROBIUM SENILE
Dendrobium senile is native to Laos, Tenasserim region in Myanmar, Ranong area on the Thai peninsula and northern and eastern Thailand. They grow at heights of 500-1200 m.
It is a miniature sized, warm to cool growing epiphytic plant, which reaching 9-22 cm in size, with suberect, reclining to creeping, hairy, succulent-like, 5-15 cm long pseudobulbs and 2 to 6, ovate-lanceolate, alternate, semi-deciduous, 4-5 cm long leaves.
The White Haired Dendrobium blooms in the spring and summer with fragrant, 1 to several flowers on a short inflorescence that arises from the upper nodes of the leafed and leafless canes. The flowers are 4-6 cm in diameter and open completely. The sharp tips of both whorls are bright lemon or butter-yellow. The broad, spatulate lip has green spots on either side of the orange-yellow shield and red striations in the back of the throat. It is more brightly and intensely colored than the petals of both whorls. The flowers have a lemon scent and last for 3-4 weeks.
DENDROBIUM SENILE CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Dendrobium senile needs a light level of 20000-35000 lux. These plants in summer require about 50% shading. The level of light should be maximally high, but not destroying the plants. Strong air movement is required throughout the year.
Temperature:
The average temperature of the summer day is 28-29 ° C, night 19 ° C, giving a daily difference of 8-10 ° C. In spring, the average day temperature is 30-32 ° C, the night 14-19 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 11-16 ° C. In winter the average day temperature is 25-28 ° C, night 7-10 ° C, giving a daily difference of 16-18 ° C.
Humidity:
From late spring to autumn, Old Man Orchid needs the humidity of 75-80%, while in the winter and at the beginning of spring, for about 4 months, it drops to 60%.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Dendrobium senile can be grown on tree rootstocks or cork, with high humidity is ensured and watering is done at least once a day in summer. When growing in pots, you can use any loose, quickly drying substrate. Clay pots are recommended, because then the plants dry faster. You can repot at any time as soon as new roots grow.
Watering:
Precipitation is moderate to heavy from late spring and all summer, but it is much drier in the winter. Dendrobium senile should be abundantly watered during active growth with only slight drying out between waterings. When new growths reach maturity in autumn, the amount of water should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer:
It is recommended to apply a 1/4-1/2 dose of orchid fertilizer weekly. From spring to mid summer, fertilizer with an increased nitrogen content is preferred, and fertilizer with an increased content of phosphorus should be used at the end of summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Over the period of 3-5 winter months, Dendrobium senile must dry out between waterings, but they can not stay dry for too long. The occasional morning fogging between waterings will protect the plants from excessive dehydration. Fertilization should be eliminated until spring, when watering increases.
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