October 27, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
189 
THE CULTIVATION OF DENDROBES.* 
When commencing the cultivation of any class of 
plants, it is best, if possible, always to ascertain 
their origin and introduction to this country, as by 
so doing and studying the conditions of growth 
which obtain in their native habitat, though we may 
not all become experts in their cultivation, yet we 
cannot fail to receive material assistance. To begin 
with, we will for this reason take a glimpse at the 
countries in which Dendrobes are found naturally. 
But as they cover such a wide area it will be evident 
that the climate of each district cannot be alike, 
nor the conditions under which the plants subsist 
be the same. Their most northern limit is said to 
be Dhera Dhoon, which we find from the map to be 
about 300 miles north of Delhi in North Hindustan. 
Here amoenum is found growing on the hills, where 
in winter the temperature falls occasionally as low 
as freezing point. From this northern limit they 
are found growing to the eastward through India, 
China, and parts of Japan, extending in a southerly 
direction through Australia to New Zealand. 
Generally speaking then, the Denbrobe covers a 
range of country extending from north to south of 
over 5000 miles, and about the same distance from 
east to west. The majority, however, of the 
varieties cultivated in this country are found within 
the tropics, where there is a very high average 
temperature, and the atmosphere is for the greater 
part of the year so saturated with moisture as to 
present a constant vapour. Nor is this all, for 
though the sun is so powerful in some districts that 
the temperature rises to no° F. or more in the 
shade, yet the days are short. Even in the height 
of summer there are only fourteen hours of daylight, 
so that during the ten hours of darkness the plants 
may recoup themselves somewhat if exhausted by 
the intense heat of the daytime. Though the 
temperature is so high, scarcely a day passes with¬ 
out some rain falling, in some places to an extent 
equal to the whole rainfall of our summer months. 
Here, then, is some guidance for the cultivator. 
But each species must be studied separately, no two 
being exactly alike. Having given a rough outline 
of the native home of the Dendrobe, and an idea of 
the climate, let us now turn to 
Their Introduction to Britain. 
It is well for all lovers of Orchids that we live in 
more peaceful days than those of our forefathers, 
and that a more humane and generous class guides 
the helm of this mighty Empire. If it were not so, 
I fear there would be but few of these charming 
plants adorning our homes, and that those of limited 
means would never possess them. Had the duty on 
glass even to a small extent been retained, the noble 
ranges, the miles of glass houses that we see at the 
present day would have been non-existent. Thanks 
are due also to the use of steam and hot water, 
which have played no small part in bringing to our 
shores these gems of far-off lands and in their 
preservation from the vicissitudes of our climate. 
We, who are of a progressive turn of mind, are 
more than thankful that these great boons were con¬ 
ferred before our time, so that we could start without 
hindrance in this respect. Though Dendrobes were 
known to science for some time previous to their 
introduction, it was not till the commencement of 
the present century that a real attempt was made to 
cultivate them in this country. The genus was 
founded by Ploff Swartz, a Swedish botanist, about 
1800. It then comprised but nine species; now 
more than 300 are cultivated under glass, besides 
others known to science. 
One of the first species we hear of being brought 
to this country is D. lingueforme ; this was found in 
N.S. Wales, and was imported in 1810. Slow pro¬ 
gress only was made with the importation of these 
plants for some years, only odd ones reaching this 
country alive. About 1836, however, an attempt 
was made in real earnest, as several private gentle¬ 
men sent out collectors, and the various nursery 
establishments then springing into existence were 
induced to make every effort to supply the ever- 
increasing demand for these rarities in order to have 
new plants to offer, and from that time to the 
present new species have arrived, one of the latest 
being D. Phalaenopsis Schroderianum, which was 
found in New Guinea a few years ago. 
* A paper read by Mr. H. C. Prinsep, Buxted Park, at 
the last meeting of the Brighton Gardeners’ Improvement 
Society. 
The Evergreen Section. 
That the cultivator may the more easily master the 
cultural details of this vast genus, we will divide 
them into groups. First, those having persistent 
foliage, that is which retain their leaves for several 
years and flower from the same growths for two or 
more years in succession. This group we will sub¬ 
divide into two, taking first such as densiflorum, 
Farmeri, thyrsiflorum, chrysotoxum, suavissi- 
mum, etc. These succeed best when grown in pots, 
for they should never even when at rest be allowed 
to become dry at the roots. Good fibrous peat 
intermixed with clean crocks is all that is needed to 
grow them in. It seems to me to be a mistake to 
mix sphagnum moss with the potting material, as it 
so soon becomes sour when decayed, so that unless 
watering is done carefully when the plants are at 
rest the roots soon rot. With attention this is by 
far the easiest section to cultivate, as they are not so 
apt to go wrong in winter through being over¬ 
watered. They must not, however, be subjected to 
a low temperate even when dormant, or they will 
rot off at the base of their growth. From 50° to 
558 F. during the winter months suits them admir¬ 
ably. When the flower buds are swelling they 
should have an increase 5 Q to ro° according to tne 
weather. They should be kept shaded from the sun 
and in a rather dry atmosphere. 
After flowering they should be placed in a warm 
house to make their growth, which, if the tempera¬ 
ture be suitable, they will do in about two months, 
so that if they begin early in June they will com¬ 
plete the growth by the end of July. During this 
period water should be given liberally, so that there 
may be no check, for if this should occur, the leaves, 
from four to six in number, which are formed on the 
top of the growths, will be imperfect, in which case 
the flower spike, if formed at all, will not be well de¬ 
veloped. Shade will be very necessary at this stage, 
as the bright sun shining on the young leaves would 
cause them to become spotted. When growth is 
complete and the foliage has become firm, the plant 
may be gradually hardened off, so as withstand the 
sunlight. This will be towards the end of Sep¬ 
tember. 
The other portion of this group consists of such 
species as Jenkinsii, aggregatum, and Kingianum. 
The first-named is one of the smallest of the culti¬ 
vated species, its growth not exceeding 1 in. in 
height. These succeed best when grown on blocks 
of wood and kept near to the roof. They must not 
be allowed to get parched at the roots, which they 
will soon do if not well attended to. They must also 
not be subjected to a low temperature in winter. 
Our next group will include such species as firrt- 
briatum, f. oculatum, Dalhousianum, moschatum, 
Gibsoni, &c. These for the most part make strong 
terete stems from 3 ft. to 8 ft. or more in length. 
Their leaves are not so stout as the former, and are 
produced on the whole length of the growth. 
Though flowering on pendulous racemes they are not 
produced from the tops of the growths, but from the 
various nodes at intervals. They also flower from 
the same pseudo-bulbs for several years successively 
so long as any life remains in them. These plants 
being evergreen require careful treatment in winter, 
fimbriatum when well grown is one of the best of 
this class. The photograph represents a plant 
grown by me, which will show its habit. We have 
had them make growths 10 ft. in length, from which 
thousands of flowers have been produced, as will be 
seen from the photo. This species is wrongly 
described in most works on Orchids, doubtless from 
imperfect knowledge, few people having seen a well- 
grown plant. With me it is the most beautiful of 
all that section. The flowers, which are of a bright 
orange-yellow, are about 2 in. across. The lip having 
a dark maroon blotch at its base is beautifully 
fimbriated, somewhat similar to Brymerianum, but 
shorter. We have had plants of this species nearly 
two years in making their growth; from this it is 
evident that they should neither be allowed to be¬ 
come dry at the roots, nor be subjected to a low 
winter temperature. This then should be borne in 
mind by the cultivator. There is also another thing 
to be taken into account if the plants are to do well. 
With us the growths are trained to wires a few 
inches from the roof glass of the house while grow¬ 
ing. They are shaded from the bright sun, but in 
that position get plenty of light. The great draw¬ 
back to this section is that the flowers last so short a 
time in perfection, from six to ten days being the 
utmost. They are best grown in pots in peat, as 
recommended for the former group. 
The Terete-stemmed Species. 
We will next take those with slender terete stems, 
as for instance, Devonianum, Pierardi, primulinum, 
secundum, &c. Though not a large group, it in¬ 
cludes some lovely species, which when well grown 
are most interesting. They are best grown in 
baskets suspended from the roof, but will grow in 
pots equally well. Peat and crocks only should be 
used in potting. When grown in this manner their 
growths should be staked in an upright position in 
order that they may be thoroughly ripened, for if 
this be properly accomplished fascicles of flowers 
will be produced from each node the whole length of 
the pseudo-bulb. When the flower buds are formed 
the growths should be let loose, as they are much 
more graceful when hanging down. 
There are some kinds that make long growths, 
such as chrysanthum, Wardianum, crassinode, &c. 
These differ somewhat from the former, particularly 
the first-named, its flowers being produced on the 
current year's growth, which are from 3 ft. to 7 ft. 
long. The photograph here shown represents a 
plant 12 ft. in diameter grown by me, and carrying 
between four or five thousand flowers. The long 
stems are clothed with leaves of very delicate 
texture, and on that account need great care, as 
thrip is very troublesome to them, and is very 
difficult to eradicate if it gains a hold. The sun is 
apt to scorch them also, so that they must be care¬ 
fully watched. This species was first brought to 
England by Dr. Waneck (from the hot valleys of the 
Himalayan zone) to whom we are indebted for 
several other species also. It has now gone almost 
out of cultivation, no doubt because other species of 
less size have taken its place. When in bloom it is 
one of the handsomest of the late flowering section, 
and when well grown presents a sight not easily for¬ 
gotten. The flowers, though not individually large, 
are produced in great profusion along those stems 
which have just completed their growth. I have 
counted as many as eighty-five on one stem, some¬ 
times five at one fascicle. They are of a bright 
orange colour, with two deep maroon spots on the 
Hd, and are of such substance as to present a wax¬ 
like appearance. 
As growth commences shortly after flowering the 
plants should be taken to the stove for winter, where 
they will have made considerable progress by spring. 
Crassinode is a beautiful species well worthy of a 
place in every collection. Those who saw the piece 
exhibited by me at the spring show will no doubt 
remember its character. The flowers of this species 
will remain fresh for six or eight weeks. Wardianum 
is so elegant a species that no collection is complete 
without it. The large bold flowers are so striking 
that one is at once charmed with them, and though 
it is a rather more difficult species to grow than 
some others, yet it may be successfully cultivated 
if care be taken to shield the plants from the direct 
rays of the sun during their time of growth. The 
colouring of the flowers is variable, but the petals 
are always more or less tipped with purple. The lip 
is golden-yellow with two maroon blotches at its 
base. They will grow in either pots or baskets, but 
care must be taken to ripen the growth properly or 
they will not flower profusely. 
Another, and perhaps the most difficult group to 
cultivate under glass, consists of such species as 
formosum, f. giganteum, cruentum, draconis, 
Jamesianum, etc. The latter seems to be the most 
tractable under cultivation, as it will succeed in a 
lower temperature. The flowers of these are pro¬ 
duced on the tops of the growths as soon as the 
latter are completed, and for the most part are very 
beautiful. We have still another group which 
requires careful attention, and in this we will 
include aureum, moniliforme, Findlayanum, luteo- 
lum, etc. The first mentioned is a beautiful species, 
making growths nearly a foot long clothed with 
leaves to near their base. The flowers are produced 
in fascicles during the winter months, and are pale 
yellow in colour, and delightfully fragrant. Monili- 
formia is also a delicate plant requiring special care. 
It is something similar to the nobile type, but not so 
robust. These plants succeed best when grown near 
the roof, but should be kept shaded from the sun. 
[To be continued). 
Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs, by 
A. D. Webster. A valuable guide to planters of beautiful 
trees and shrubs for the adornment of parks and gardens. 
Price, 3s.; post free, 3s. 3d. Publisher, Gardening World, 
i, Clement's Inn, Strand, London, W.C. 
