Orchid - Dendrobium 'Berry Oda'

Scientific Name
Dendrobium kingianum x biggibum (tree-life, cross between King's species and the two-humped species) 'Berry Oda'

Common Name
Berry Oda Houseplant, Dendrobium Orchid, Singapore Orchid, Bamboo Orchid

Origin
Native to tropical Australia

Description
This striking orchid, native to tropical areas of Australia, can be happy in your home too! Keep in mind its natural habitat, in a tropical rainforest and shaded by the tree canopy, and it will thank you with bright, pinky-purple flowers. It also has a dormancy period in the cooler months, so if you ensure it can be around 5°C cooler in winter, it will flower more readily come Spring. Keep the conditions right for this Orchid and the results will be spectacular: the colours of these blooms are truly a showstopping centrepiece.

Light
Bright indirect light is best; in the wild, this plant is shaded by tree canopy. A position that gets cool overnight is also beneficial, as long as it's not very shaded or dark in the daytime.

Water
When the plant is in flower, consistent moisture will help keep the blooms looking fabulous! Allow the top third of the soil to dry out between waters; water into the soil or by submerging the bottom quarter of the pot for five minutes. Mist any aerial roots when you water.

Humidity
Dendrobiums like it humid, so a humidity tray will help keep the flower and foliage healthy; with too dry air they will start to crisp. Steer clear of radiators too!

Soil
Use a well-draining mix with added bark to help your epiphytic orchid best! A mix designed for Orchids or other epiphytes will work well here. Repot every two or three years in spring; your Orchid will be more likely to flower when pot-bound so this infrequent repotting should help it bloom!

Food
Orchid feed will be best adapted to your orchid, although generic houseplant feed won't be disastrous. Foliar feeds work well with this plant; use these to supplement monthly soil feeds. Feeding is especially key in Spring.

Temperature
Ideal temperature is 15-27°C; make sure it does not get colder than 10°C in winter. To encourage flowering, a dormancy period with winter temperatures around 5°C cooler than summer is recommended.

Pet-safe
Yes, but too much nibbling won't be good for pets, small humans or the plant!

Sprouts Top Tips
If you notice silver, flaky coatings on your Dendrobium stems,don't panic as this is totally normal! Common mistakes include overwatering, so make sure you do not allow the soil to sit soggy; the roots like to have access to fresh air, hence the bark in the soil, so don't fill that with water. The roots will naturally grow above and over the edges of the pot; don't cut them back, but you can put them into the soil when you repot into the next size pot. Just trim off any brown roots and make sure you repot after the plant has flowered.