How to plant Dendrobium?

Dendrobium officinale , also known as Yunnan iron skin, iron skin bucket or black knot grass, is a perennial herb belonging to the genus Dendrobium of the Orchidaceae family. It prefers to grow in cool and humid environments in mountainous areas. In China, the natural distribution of Dendrobium covers many provinces including Anhui, Zhejiang, and Fujian. Let’s learn how to grow Dendrobium.

1. Breeding Methods

Dendrobium reproduction techniques are mainly divided into two categories: sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction, and the industry generally prefers to use asexual reproduction methods.

Sexual reproduction: reproduction by seeds. The seeds of Dendrobium are as small as powder, and each capsule contains about 20,000 seeds. They are usually difficult to germinate and can only germinate under suitable conditions, such as sufficient nutrients, appropriate humidity and light. Although this method of reproduction has a high reproduction coefficient, its success rate is relatively low and generally needs to be carried out in a tissue culture room.

Asexual reproduction:

Division propagation: It is suitable to carry out in spring or autumn, especially in late March or early April before the Dendrobium sprouts. Select healthy, disease-free, 1- to 2-year-old plants with well-developed root systems as mother plants. Dig out the plant, remove dead branches and leaves, trim the roots that are too long, retain about 3 cm of old roots, and then divide the plant into several small clumps according to the number of stems. Each clump should have 4 to 5 stems as breeding material.

Cutting propagation: in spring or summer, the best time is from May to June. Cut healthy and plump stem segments from three-year-old plants with vigorous growth. Each segment contains 4 to 5 nodes and is about 15 to 25 cm long. Insert the stem segment into the vermiculite or river sand to a depth that ensures the stem segment is stable. After the axillary buds on the stem segment germinate and grow aerial roots, transplanting can be carried out. Upper stem segments are usually preferred because they have apical dominance, higher survival rates, more sprouts, and rapid growth.

High bud propagation: mainly carried out in spring or summer, especially summer. For Dendrobium plants that are more than three years old, axillary buds, called high buds, will sprout on the stems every year and develop aerial roots to form seedlings. When the seedlings grow to 5 to 7 cm, they can be cut and transplanted.

Tissue culture propagation: Dendrobium nobile can be rapidly propagated through tissue culture. After routine disinfection, the leaves, tender stems or roots of Dendrobium nobile are cut into small sections of 0.5 to 1 cm as explants. MS and B5 medium were used as the base, and different combinations of plant hormones such as NAA, IAA, and 6-BA were added. The culture conditions are pH 5.6 to 6.0, temperature 25 to 28°C, 9 to 10 hours of light per day, and light intensity 1800 to 1900 lx. Under these conditions, small buds began to appear on the stems and leaves after 19 days, and after one month the buds elongated and branched out. After two months, they grew into test tube seedlings 2.0 to 2.7 cm tall with 4 to 8 leaves. The study found that among different culture medium formulas, MS medium has obvious advantages in promoting growth rate compared with B5 medium.

2. Choose the host

Dendrobium officinale depends on the host to grow and has special requirements for the growing environment. Unlike general crops that rely on soil, Dendrobium absorbs nutrients and water from the air through aerial roots, so its carrier can be rocks, gravel or tree trunks. If you choose rocks or gravel as a host, look for sandy rock areas that are usually dark and moist, covered with moss, and surrounded by broadleaf trees to provide shade. If the trunk is used as the main attachment, you should choose broad-leaved tree species with thick bark, many longitudinal grooves, moist bark and often covered with moss. When cultivating in a shade shed, a high box should be built under the woods, filled with mixed soil, and a shade shed should be built to simulate the natural growth environment of Dendrobium.

3. Land Preparation

Before planting Dendrobium, the land needs to be properly prepared according to the region, conditions and variety. When planting on rocks, nests should be made on the stone surface at certain intervals, and attention should be paid to protecting the moss on the stone surface. When planting on gravel ground, clear weeds and branches, retain shade trees, and adjust light transmittance. In addition, Dendrobium can also be planted through tree planting, wall planting, potted planting or artificial substrate cultivation.

4. Planting Method

Dendrobium is usually planted in spring or autumn, with spring being more suitable because the climatic conditions are conducive to the growth of Dendrobium. Planting methods include:

Stone planting method: insert Dendrobium seedlings wrapped in cow dung mud into the cracks of the rocks to ensure stability.

Tree-attached planting method: select trees with suitable bark, fix the Dendrobium seedlings on the trunk, and apply cow dung mud to the roots.

Shade planting method: Plant Dendrobium in high ridges, cover with fine sand or small gravel, and build a shade to adjust the environment.

Studies have shown that sawdust and limestone particles are high-quality substrates for artificial cultivation of Dendrobium, providing new options for Dendrobium cultivation. Proper host selection and soil preparation are essential for the healthy growth of Dendrobium.