Dendrobium rigidum

Base Price: $25.00

Intro:
Dendrobium rigidum can be found from Australia to New Guinea. The unique leaves are rounded and succulent in nature. They are 1" to 1½" long, and ½" thick and are borne in branching clusters on top of single, narrow stems. The unusual flowers are colored in light straw yellow with burnt mahogany edges. This unique plant is easy to grow and free-flowering.

Light:
This plant requires medium to high light with 2,000 to 3,500 footcandles being ideal. Grow close to an east window. During winter in Northern and Southern Hemispheres, grow in a south window. During the summer months this plant can be grown outside and will tolerate strong sunlight but must be eased into it by keeping shady at first and then moving it into stronger sunlight as the weeks go on.

Temperature:
This plant prefers intermediate temperatures with winter nighttime lows being no colder than 55 - 60° Fahrenheit and winter daytimes highs being 68 - 74°F. Summertime temperatures can be several degrees warmer.

Humidity:
40 to 50% is ideal.

Water:
This plant needs to dry out well in between watering. Let the leaves be your guide. If the leaves tend to shrivel or become leathery looking or wrinkle, this is a sign that you are not providing enough water. Water more frequently until the leaves plump up. Use rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water for best results. During the spring or summer months when the plant is in the height of its growth, allow more frequent watering. During the winter months when the light levels are lower, keep the plant somewhat drier between watering. Because of the succulent nature of the plants leaves, it is somewhat drought resistant.

Fertilizer:
We highly recommend using Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water if plants are planted in bark. Be sure to flush the mix with clear water only once per month to prevent fertilizer salt build up. For plants in moss or mounted on slabs feed every third or 4th watering as the moss holds a lot of nutrients.

Or use GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.

Another fertilizer offered is: GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula).

Flowering:
This plant can flower at different times of the year but tends to flower most frequently in spring and fall. The flowering season can be from three to four months, with clusters of small ¼" to ½" flowers emerging from each leaf. The flowers often last a month or longer.

Repotting:
We suggest you repot this plant in the spring months as new growth forms and just after flowering. Use a well-drained mix that does not compact too easily. This plant can be grown on slab mounts using cork or tree fern.