The Dendrobium Care Calendar
Dendrobium care isn't one schedule — it's two. The most common mistake growers make is following advice written for the other type of dendrobium. This calendar gives you a monthly checklist for both groups, so you always know what your plant needs right now.
First: which type do you have?
The fastest test is what happens in winter:
| Question | Your type | Typical plants |
|---|---|---|
| Does it drop most/all leaves in winter? | Deciduous (nobile-type) 🍂 | D. nobile, D. anosmum, D. lindleyi, D. fimbriatum |
| Does it keep its leaves year-round? | Evergreen (phalaenopsis-type) 🌿 | D. phalaenopsis, D. bigibbum, most hybrids sold as "Dendrobium orchid" |
Not sure? Read deciduous vs evergreen dendrobiums — the two-type guide(coming soon) or check your plant in the species encyclopedia.
The year at a glance
| Season | 🍂 Deciduous (nobile-type) | 🌿 Evergreen (phalaenopsis-type) |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Flowers on bare canes, then new growth. Resume water & feed gradually once new shoots appear. | Peak growth. Water freely, feed regularly, keep warm. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Heavy watering and feeding — build big new canes for next year's bloom. | Continue growth. Bright but shaded; watch for heat stress. |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Taper water as growth finishes. Leaves yellow and drop — this is normal. | Growth slows. Reduce feeding; keep temperatures stable. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Dry, cool rest (around 10–13 °C nights, sparse water) to set buds. | No cold rest needed. Keep above ~15 °C; water when media dries. |
The single most important seasonal topic — winter rest for nobile-types — is covered in depth in how to get a dendrobium to rebloom.
Monthly pages — publishing now
Detailed month-by-month checklists (/calendar/january-care/ through/calendar/december-care/) are being written and published one by one. Until your month lands, the seasonal table above covers the essentials, and these guides fill in the details:
- Watering guide — how much and how often, by season
- Light & temperature — year-round placement
- Yellow leaves — normal autumn drop vs. a warning sign
- Repotting guide — best timed in spring