Dendrobium nobile 'Kumiko' - Noble Orchid

Fragrant blooms bring a touch of colour and lovely scent to your home with this Noble Orchid. This cultivar's sweet scent is complemented by the white, yellow and pink colour of its blooms, which look like they could be straight out of the sweet shop. Set against a backdrop of verdant, mid-green foliage which sprouts its leaves in layers from each stem, these blooms are a perfect way of bringing colour and fragrance into your home. In its natural habitat, it is epiphytic, growing on trees in subtropical parts of southern and eastern Asia; make sure its roots have room to breathe and you can't go far wrong.

Scientific Name
Dendrobium nobile 'Kumiko' (renowned tree-life plant, cultivar: Kumiko)

Synonyms: Callista nobilis, Dendrobium chlorostylum, Dendrobium coerulescens, Dendrobium formosanum, Dendrobium lindleyanum, Dendrobium wallichianum

First classified in 1830, D. nobile has retained the same scientific name ever since, though there have been other suggested names in the intervening centuries.

Common Name
Noble Orchid, Noble Rock Orchid, Bamboo Orchid, Noble Dendrobium, Nobile Orchid, Kumiko Noble Orchid

Origin
Native to subtropical areas in south and southeastern Asia, found in: Bangladesh, Southern China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam.

Light
Avoid direct sun in spring and summer; used to shade from the forest canopy, the Noble Orchid can burn in harsh direct sun. It will benefit from a splash of morning sun in autumn and winter when there is generally less light to go around and its growth slows.

Water
Keep the soil relatively moist while your Orchid is flowering; only let the top third of the soil dry before watering again. This should help keep blooms happy and fresh for longer. Using room-temperature water will also prevent the plant from being shocked. Remember to reduce watering in winter when the plant will dry out more slowly.

Humidity
Noble Orchids like it humid; make sure to keep it away from drying draughts and radiators. If you notice its leaves are getting brown and crispy at the edges, the air around your Orchid may be too dry; try introducing a pebble tray to increase local humidity.

Soil
Use a soil designed for epiphytes like Orchids or Anthuriums here. The mix should have plenty of components like bark to promote air circulation to the roots. Repot every 2-3 years in spring while the plant is not in bloom; being slightly pot-bound can encourage your Orchid to bloom so don't repot too soon if you want to see those lovely flowers.

Food
Feed year-round, especially in Spring; every couple of weeks should be frequently enough. This Orchid can absorb nutrients through its leaves, so a foliar orchid feed would be the best choice here.

Temperature
Temperatures between 18-27°C during the day will be ideal; a temperature drop of 5°C overnight will help encourage your Orchid to flower. Make sure it doesn't get colder than 10°C overnight or in winter as this can cause permanent damage.

Pet-safe
Yes, this Orchid is non-toxic so is safe for homes with pets and small children. Too much nobbling won't be great, so do still keep an eye on your plant and any curious hands or paws.

Sprouts Top Tips
The Noble Orchid does need some seasonal and daily changes to grow best. Once it's slowed down growth in autumn and winter, it will need slightly lower temperatures, a dash of weak morning sunlight, less water and less food to promote a proper dormancy period. Throughout the year, an overnight dip in temperatures of 5°C is perfect for encouraging blooms and healthy growth, too. If it's too consistent, your Orchid won't feel completely at home.