Dendrobium nobile Lindley (1830.) has been selected here to represent a characteristic group of the huge Dendrobium genus is widespread in NE India, Laos, Thailand and S. China, from where the first plants were imported to Britain in the twenties of the XIXth century.

  Since then members of this "Dendrobium nobile group" grouped here on the basis of their similar environmental requirements are attractive and popular in the circles of orchid enthusiasts living under temperate climates. Indeed, as most of the species mentioned in this article are native to regions north of the Tropic of Cancer, these orchids can hardly be described as tropical.

   Dendrobium nobile is one of the relatively few orchid species, which for being rich in alkaloids is used in traditional Chinese medicine, in the "Chin Shih Hu" herbal tea cooked from its dried stems. The extract has tonic and antipyretic effects.

   This species contains over a dozen alkaloids and the first alkaloide from any orchid species (called nobiline), was isolated from D. nobile by Japanese scientists, in 1932.
With this "first" D. nobile played an important role in orchid alkaloide research.

   Other, closely related, alkaloide-rich species are also used in various "Shih Hu" potions.

   Dendrobium nobile played an important role also in orchid hybridization.
In 1849 Robert Gallier artificially fertilized D. nobile with pollen taken from D. chrysanthum and obtained fruits containing viable seeds.

   This was the first successful hybridization attempt involving tropical orchids, in spite of the fact that all the seedlings died and none of them achieved flowering size.

   The flowering of the hybrid created between D. nobile and
D. heterocarpum was reported in the Gardener's Chronicle nearly three decades later, in 1874 by Dr. Ainsworth.

   The progeny resulting from this crossing became known as Dendrobium X Ainsworthii Hort., the first registered hybrid of parents belonging to this fascinating group of orchids.

   Since then very many hybrids were produced, following in long succession the charming early hybrids.

Dendrobium nobile 'Friendship' - a good dark clone.

   Dendrobium wardianum Warner (1862.)

   Native to the mountains of Assam, Burma and Thailand. It is closely related to D. falconeri Hooker, which has somewhat longer, thinner, pendant and branching stems.

   Species exhibiting similar environmental requirements are D. gratiosissimum, D. lituiflorum and D. transparens, featuring fragrant flowers arising from old, leafless stems.

   These are not exactly beginner's orchids - the general rule is that the thinner stems the particular species has, the more difficult to provide the proper dry, cold rest period for them in cultivation.

   Dendrobium findleyanum Parish & Reichenbach f. (1877.)

   This species was discovered by Rev. C. Parish in the mountains of Burma and Thailand in 1869 and this orchid is in cultivation since then. It is also rich in alkaloids, just like Dendrobium wardianum Warner (1862.) and used in traditional oriental medicine as medicinal plants.

NATURAL HABITAT AND CLIMATE
   The climatic pattern in their natural habitats is determined by the SW monsoon, hitting the tip of India around the celebrated 1st June, Monsoon Day in India.

   The moisture these winds gathered above the Ocean and especially in the Bay of Bengal is carried northwards up to the Himalayas, where on meeting the cold air of the high mountains the heaviest rains observable on the Earth result from the precipitation.

   The four seasons of their natural habitats follow by-and-large the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter pattern characterizing the Northern Hemisphere in general.
Since in cultivation the most critical period is the cold, dry rest matching our winter season is an crucially important requirement for these orchids, let's start from there.

1. Cold and dry - November, December, January and February.
2. Warm and dry - temperature and precipitatiom slowly increase during March, April and May.
3. Warm and wet - June, July and August
4. Cooler but still warm - temperature and precipitation decrease in September and October.

    The peak vegetative growth period last from March to the end of August; by then the new growth indicates its maturity by developing a few small, terminal leaves.

   From early September watering has to be reduced gradually, till the end of October, when already only some occasional misting is all that necessary.

   The dry, cold winter rest period is the "tricky" part of the year with respect of cultivating successfully these orchids. Move the 'nobile' Dendrobiums into an unheated porch, conservatory or spare room.

   Watering is forbidden, light spraying is permissible if the bulbs are very shrivelled but is almost certainly unnecessary.
The plants will look a little neglected and some but not all the leaves will fall, that is normal.

   Harden your heart: the tougher this winter rest period was the more spectacular flowering period will follow, in which not only the number of the flowers should be high but deeper, bolder colors should also result.

   On the other hand, without suitably cold and dry rest period, in the next season you may end up with "spectacular vegetative growth" - but hardly else.

   In February the signs of growth activity may begin to appear both on the younger as well as on the old, leafless pseudobulbs. If the rest was appropriate, flower buds may begin to develop along the length of the stems, deep down towards the root neck.

   Then the plants may be put back into the cool/intermediate greenhouse, but still only misting is all that is required until new shoots have acquired roots. The new root development may be delayed until April, till the flowering becomes established.

LIGHT
   In the wild these plants are exposed to all the light that is available in forests where many of the host trees are deciduous. Even when the temperature is low the sky is cloudless and the light is bright. Therefore, keep them as near to the glass as possible and give them as much light as the short winter days allow.

WATER AND FERTILIZATION
   As that should be clear from the climatic features of their natural habitats related above, during the warm Summer period in June, July and August no amount of water is too much for them - in a well drained medium - and weekly feeding is necessary to replenish the nutients leached out by the heavy watering.

   A high-potash fertilizer in the Autumn containing reduced amounts of nitrogen, applied just before the dry, cold winter rest period begins is recommended to promote flowering in the next Spring.

REPOTTING
   Cultivate your mature plants in a mixture with plenty of drainage in the bottom. This drainage layer should be heavy enough to steady the pot.

   Division and the removal of any keikis are best carried out when flowering is over and the new growths have plenty of active roots.

   These Dendrobiums like to be underpotted which means moving them into the next size of pot only when the pot is full of roots.

Dendrobium hybrid 'Malones'
Dendrobium Akatuki x Dendrobium Glorious Rainbow (1973.)