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obi u m
endr Manual

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This manual is purely for information only. KF Bioplants does not own any liability for any issues caused after following this manual.
 DENDROBIUM CULTIVATION
INTRODUCTION
Dendrobium, belonging to family Orchidaceae, is the largest genus of
Orchids. In general, Orchids are most abundant in the tropics and sub-tropics,
where the conditions are favourable for the growth of Orchids. The tropical
species are mostly epiphytic and the largest epiphytic genus is Dendrobium.
Orchids have occupied a significant position in the world cut-flower industry
for their attractive, beautiful range of colours, variation in shape and long
shelf life.
GROWTH HABIT
Based on the growth habit, Orchids are grouped into two types, viz, sympodial
and monopodial.
Sympodial growth habit: The plants produce a thick bulb-like structure,
known as pseudo-bulb, which usually grows along the rhizome. Examples
are Dendrobium, Cattleya, Oncidium and Bulbophyllum.
Monopodial growth habit: The plants produce one main stem that grows
taller every year. The stem elongates, adding new leaves to the top and aerial
roots arise occasionally from the main stem. Examples are Vanda, Vanilla,
Rhyncostylis, Arachnis, etc.

PLANT MORPHOLOGY
Root: Epiphytic Orchids have
modified aerial roots. The roots
Flower
are made up of several layers of
epidermal cells modified into
shiny, spongy, water-absorbing
structure. A remarkable feature Leaf
of epiphytic Orchid roots is that Sheath
they contain Chlorophyll and
participate in photosynthesis. Pseudo-bulb
Leaf: In most epiphytic Orchids
the leaves are thick and leathery
with a waxy coating to help in New growth
minimizing water loss. The leaf Rhizome Root
color can be used as an indicator Eye
of the amount of sunlight
received by the plant. The ideal colour should be somewhere between light
green to dark green.
Pseudo-bulb: These are specialized water storage organs to survive in extreme
climatic conditions. These are formed by swelling of one to many internodes of
the stem. The pseudo-stems are often conical or oblong in shape and have
smooth surface with lengthwise grooves. Shriveling of the pseudo-stem is
an indication that the plant is subjected to water stress. With ageing, the
pseudo-bulb sheds its leaves and becomes dormant. At this stage, it is called a
'back bulb'.

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 Flower: The typical Orchid flower Sepal
• Overhead Top Shade Net: A shade net is installed over the top plastic in
is zygomorphic i.e., bilaterally areas having prolonged periods of high light intensities and high
Petal Petal
symmetrical. The Orchid flower temperature.
consists of three sepals and three • Overhead Top Sprinkler: This aids in bringing down the temperature in
petals that are arranged in a whorl Column
high temperature areas.
and a reproductive column. Individual
Anther Stigmatic • Inner Top Shade Net: 50% shade net, green / white.
flowers are borne on spikes, that arise
Cap Surface • Side Shade Net: 45% mono-filament green / white.
from where the outermost leaf meets
the pseudo-bulb. Lip • Rollable Side Curtains: These curtains, along the sides, serve the purpose
Sepal Sepal
of maintaining the relative humidity at desired levels. In areas where the
CLIMATE relative humidity is very low, the curtains can be rolled down to bring the
Dendrobiums can adapt themselves in a wide range of climatic and humidity to the desired level. In high humid areas, the curtains are rolled up,
topographic conditions varying from hot, wet lowlands to high altitude colder to enable ample air circulation. The operation of these curtains is a
regions. The genus prefers bright light to produce quality blooms. crucial factor in maintaining the humidity of the greenhouse.
Temperature PLANTING STRUCTURE
Based on the suitability to the range of temperatures, for growth and Raised benches are erected on which planting takes place on netted platforms.
development, Dendrobium belongs to the group of tropical (warm) Orchids. The benches can be supported on cement pole stands or on GI pole stands.
Temperatures ranging between 20oC - 30oC during the day and 16oC - 20oC The advantage of the GI pole stand is that it can be fabricated as per
during the night are suitable. Temperature below 20oC for prolonged requirement and is easy to modify. 50% mono-filament green shade net serves
periods leads to leaf drop. Sunlight and sufficient humidity levels help as the netted platform. The durability of the netted platform is of paramount
Dendrobium Orchids endure cooler daytime temperatures. Under shade net importance, as it is this platform that holds the weight of the plant till the
conditions, the plants can survive upto 35oC. end of the crop lifecycle. The bench specifications are as follows:
Light Intensity • Height: 70 cm, Width: 1.2 m, Pathway: 1 m.
The light requirement ranges between 25,000 - 38,000 Lux. The exposure of MEDIA
leaves to direct sunlight should be avoided as this leads to scorching of the
The role of media in Dendrobium is largely to help the roots to anchor,
leaves, and the growth and flowering gets adversely affected.
thereby providing support for growth. The media should also be such that it
Relative Humidity lets off moisture, thereby keeping the root zone of the plant well aerated. In
A relative humidity of 50% - 60% is ideal. Foggers are installed and operated Dendrobium, coconut husk is the media that is widely used. Since the coconut
to maintain the humidity at desired levels. husk is procured from coastal regions, the content of Sodium in the husk is
normally beyond the permissible limits for healthy plant growth, hence the
VENTILATION
coconut husk needs to be pre-treated to remove the excess Sodium.
Fresh air circulation is a mandatory requirement throughout the growth Pre-planting treatment of coconut husk to remove excess Sodium:
of the plant. Proper ventilation helps in maintaining uniform temperature
inside the greenhouse. Lack of ventilation creates hot humid pockets inside The husks need to be treated with Calcium Nitrate @ 3 gm / lit. of water to
the greenhouse which is a pre-disposing factor for the incidence of disease- remove the Sodium ions from the husk.
causing pathogens. Procedure:
POLYHOUSE / SHADE NET Step 1: Soak the coconut husk in plain water for 3 to 4 hours. Drain out
the water. The water used for soaking should not have EC of more than
The structure of the polyhouse will vary depending on the geo-climatic 1 mS/cm.
location. Structural modifications are suggested for different regions to meet
Step 2: Soak the coconut husk in Calcium Nitrate, overnight @ 3 gm / lit.
the crop growth requirement. In heavy rainfall areas, shade net is not
Drain out the solution.
recommended. The general polyhouse specification is as follows:
Step 3: Wash the coconut husk with water.
• Height: 6 m, Gutter height: 4.5 m, Bay Size: 8 x 4 m
Repeat the Calcium Nitrate treatment till the EC of the husk comes down to
• Plastic: 200 microns - white diffused. 0.3 - 0.5 mS/cm.

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 Pre-planting treatment of husks and plants to eliminate pests or disease- IRRIGATION AND FERTIGATION
causing organisms:
The performance of the plants in the greenhouse is a combined effect of the
In most cases, the husks are piled up and stored, which increases chances light, temperature, humidity and fertigation. The pH of water used for irrigation
of the incidence of snails and slugs. The husks need to be treated to kill the should be within the range of 5.2 - 6.2, and the EC should not exceed
eggs and adults of this pest, which is a major threat to this crop. 0.7mS/cm. The frequency of irrigation depends on the growing condition and
Procedure: The chemical combination for pre-planting treatment includes wetness of coco chunks. Occasional misting of the foliage will help in
the following: maintaining the moisture lost during very warm days.
• Captan @ 2 gm / lit + Imidacloprid @ 0.5 ml / lit + Metaldehyde @ 20 gm / lit. Irrigation and fertigation is carried out with the help of a hand shower. If the
The husks as well as the plants are dipped in this mixture of solution for 5 - 10 media appears wet and soggy, fertigation should be temporarily stopped.
seconds. Over-watering will increase the incidence of fungal diseases. The frequency of
irrigation varies with each season. In general, under optimum greenhouse
PLANTING conditions, fertigation is given thrice a week. For better utilization of the
Before planting, the husks need to be arranged on the benches. There are fertilizer solution, the husks need to be given a light showering a day prior to
various patterns of arrangement of husks. One of the simplest and most fertigation.
common methods is the back-to-back arrangement of the husk. Nutrition Guidelines:
• Planting upto 4 months: NPK ratio - 3 : 1 : 1
• 5th - 7th month : NPK ratio - 1 : 3 : 1
• 7th month onwards : NPK ratio - 1 : 1 : 3
• The pH should be maintained between 5.5 - 6.5, and EC during the
vegetative stage should be around 1.2 and can go upto 1.8 mS/cm.
• Weekly drench of CaNO3 @ 2 gm/liter.
• Care should be taken to prevent salt build-up in the media. To avoid
salt build-up, frequent washing of the media with water having EC less
than 0.7 mS/cm can be carried out.
• Do not spray fertilizer on flowering spike or spikes with buds.
During monsoons, the rate of evaporation of moisture from the husk takes
Back-to-back arrangement of husk Twines running along the beds place at a lower rate, due to reduced light, hence the fertigation frequency is
reduced. During summers, the coco-husk dries up rapidly, hence to maintain
A minimum of 4 twines run along the bed, which is used to fasten individual optimum moisture levels in the husk, light showering with plain water is to be
plants and hold them in position. As the plant grows and more pseudo-stems given, to prevent the plants from getting subjected to water stress. The
are formed each year, the base would require more support, hence additional indication of water stress is the plants getting placid and the pseudo-stem
husks need to be added at the base, just enough to hold the entire plant erect. showing a shriveled appearance. Similarly, during winters, the light levels and
After planting, the husks need to be given a light showering with plain water. temperature is below optimum, which will slow down the plant growth.
Thereafter, from the next day onwards the post-planting schedule needs to be However, if the plant is in the production stage, a month prior to the onset of
followed. The post-planting schedule of two weeks is followed to acclimatize winter, the fertigation needs to be revised which essentially includes higher
the plants to the new environment, which essentially includes fungicides, dosage of Phosphorus and Potassium.
bactericides and N: P: K balanced nutrient. MAINTAINING OPTIMUM HUMIDITY
PLANT DENSITY Humidity levels need to be maintained at optimum levels at all times. It is the
The plant population per acre is 36,000 with a density of 17 plants / m². The optimum humidity levels in a greenhouse that help in the proper uptake of
planting specifications are as follows: nutrients. During monsoons, the high humidity levels can lead to fungal
• Number of rows per bench: 4 infection, hence maintaining adequate ventilation is of paramount
importance. During winter, the humidity levels dip to low levels. Under such
• Row-to-row distance: 30 cm
situations, the foggers need to be operated at frequent intervals and the side
• Plant-to-plant distance: 20 cm curtains need to be rolled down to maintain the humidity levels inside.

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 However, this operation needs to be carried out depending on the existing Dendrobiums put forth flowering buds, from the sides of the canes, generally
local climatic conditions. The thumb rule is to avoid stagnant humid air opposite the leaf axils. During the first year of plantation 1 - 2 new canes will
build-up in the greenhouse. While operating the foggers, ensure that the water be produced per plant. These canes will produce approximately 3 - 4 small
droplets do not reach the plant canopy level. Keeping the ground area, i.e, the flower spikes per cane. These flower spikes will bear an average of 5 florets
area beneath the bed wet increases the humidity, thereby improving the each. With the subsequent years, the number of canes produced per plant
plant performance. will increase, accompanied by increase in the number of spikes as well
GROWTH AND FLOWERING PATTERN as the length of the spikes. Under optimum growth and management
conditions, a 3 - 4 year old plant, should produce 8 - 10 spikes, bearing
Dendrobium Orchids have sympodial growth pattern, which means that the 10 - 11 florets each.
Orchid grows laterally. The lateral growth produces new shoots along the
HARVESTING
rhizome that develops into a stem with roots and leaves which eventually
produces flowers. This growth process is repeated in a continuous cycle. The premium quality spikes are those having a length of 60 cm and bearing
10 - 12 florets each.
Flower Harvesting should be carried out during early morning hours, by snapping
the base of the spike, when more than 50% of the florets are open.

Leaf
Sheath
Pseudo-bulb

New growth
Rhizome Root
Eye

Lateral growth pattern of Sympodial Orchid Stage of harvest

Flowering: Under optimum growing conditions, a hardened plant having a

height of 10 - 12 cm, should come to flowering in 4 - 5 months after planting.
The cane puts forth flowering shoot only after attaining full maturity. The
first flowering shoot or the spike arises from where the outermost leaf meets
the pseudo-bulb. The emergence of the flowering spikes is from top to
bottom of the matured cane.

Pedicel Bud
Flower

Leaf

Peduncle
Pedicel
Sheath

First flowering shoot emerging Flowering shoot Buds of flowering shoot

from the topmost leaf axil emerging opposite to Point of harvest Fully harvested cane
the leaf axil

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 POST-HARVEST GUIDELINES
Step 1:
Post-harvest care and operations will vary, depending upon the season and
the market distance. After harvest, the spikes are given an angular cut by
placing the stems in water. (The angular cut should be given with the stem
being immersed in water). The stems are then graded as per the length of
the spike. The grading criteria are as follows:

Parameter Size
Super Long (SL) Long (L) Medium (M) Short (S)
Spike length / 55 and above 45 - 54 35 - 44 30 - 34
Stem length (cm)
Bunching
Flowers per stem 12 - 15 10 - 12 8 - 10 6-8
Number of opened 7 6 5 4
flowers per stem

Step 2:
After grading, the spikes are subjected to 'Pulsing Treatment'.
Pulsing Treatment: The spikes are placed in a solution of 8 HQS - Hydroxy
Quinoline Sulphate (@ 225 mg / lit) + Silver Nitrate (@ 30 mg / lit) + Sucrose
(@ 40 gm / lit) for a period of 2 hours. A minimum of 3 lit solution is required
for placing around 30 medium sized spikes per bucket.
Step 3: Bunching and Packing for local dispatch
The Pulsing treatment is followed by placing the stems in 'Holding Solution'.
This step is carried out for dispatches to distant markets. The Holding Solution
comprises of 8 HQS - Hydroxy Quinoline Sulphate (@ 200 mg / lit) + Silver
Nitrate (@ 10 mg / lit) + Sucrose (@ 20 gm / lit). This solution is filled into vials
and individual flower spikes are placed in each vial.
Step 4:
The flower spikes are bunched together @ 20 spikes / bunch. This is followed
by covering each bunch with plastic sleeve.
Step 5:
The sleeved bunches are
packed into corrugated
boxes and ready for
transport. The box size is
100 cm (L) x 30 cm (W) x 40
cm (H). 700 medium sized
spikes (35 bunches) can be
arranged per box.

Sorting and Grading Packing and dispatch in vials for distant markets Packing Box

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 Insect Pests Diseases
Pest Pre-disposing Symptoms Remedy Disease Pre-disposing Symptoms Remedy
factors factor
Snail / The coconut Shot hole feeding Eliminate the hiding Bacterial Hot moist Symptoms begin on the Since spores are spread
Slugs husk is the main symptoms on the places. Baits to trap the soft & conditions leaves as water-soaked by water splash, avoid
source of snail flower petals. The adults can be placed on Brown rot in the spots, with yellow overhead watering if
eggs and adults. roots will be eaten the benches as well as greenhouse, margins, having an oily disease is present.
Hence the husk off from the beneath the benches. overwatering, appearance. As the Under situations of
needs to be growing tip. The poison baits contain low light disease advances, the severe outbreak,
treated before Metaldehyde. Certain levels, leaves will loosen reduce humidity levels
laying them on other baits like Jaggery infected tools, from the pseudo-stem, in the greenhouse.
the benches. will serve as attracting contaminated emit foul odour, apart for Streptocyclin spray
High moisture the adults which will water. the slimy ooze that @ 0.2 ml / lit, H2O2 +
content in the have to be collected and comes out of the tissue. Silver @ 2 ml / lit.
husks will destroyed manually. Pythium Excessive Irregular brown spots Prevent overhead
harbor snails. and moisture in appear on the under side of showering as the fungal
Phytophthor the media. the leaves initially, which spores will spread
Caterpillar Multiply rapidly Feeding damage Maintain ample air a rot later turn purplish brown in rapidly to healthy
during symptoms seen on circulation and prevent
colour. As the disease plants. Bavistin
monsoons, the flower petals humidity build-up by
advances, the plants wilt. (Carbendazim)
owing to high and tender leaves. allowing accumulation of
Infection often starts in the @ 2 gm / lit, Metalaxyl
humidity. Caterpillar stagnant air inside the
roots and spreads upward. @ 1 gm / lit.
droppings will be greenhouse. Spray with
visible on the Lannate (Methomyl) @ Rhizoctonia Overwatering, Blackish brown Cut and discard the
flower as well as 1.5 gm / lit. Root rot high humidity discolouration of the affected roots & drench
media, as the larvae and low neck of the roots. the plant with Topsin-M
hide in the media temperature. (Thiophanate Methyl)
or leaf sheaths @ 2 gm / lit, Captan
during the day time. (Captaf) @ 2 gm / lit,
Metalaxyl @ 1 gm / lit.
Scales, Lack of air Thrips suck sap Provide ample air
Mealy circulation. from the petals, circulation. Maintain Anthracnose Stagnant air, Leaf tip turns brown and Topsin-M
bugs and hence the tissues of optimum humidity levels high the browning progresses (Thiophanate Methyl)
Thrips the petals dry out by operating the foggers. temperature towards the base. @ 2 gm / lit.
and turn brown. Confidor (Imidacloprid) and low light Concentric rings appear
Scales and mealy @ 0.5 ml/lit, Acephate @ intensity. around the dark brown or
bugs will feed and 1.5 gm/lit, Rogor grey patches on the leaves.
thrive on the leaf (Dimethoate) @ 2 ml/lit. Cercospora High Infection begins as Provide optimum
axils and tender Leaf spot humidity, yellow spots on the humidity level.
growing points. stagnant air. under side of the leaves, Dithane M-45
Sooty mold which later gets visible (Mancozeb)
develops on the on the upper side as @ 1.5 gm / lit.
leaves. well. The spots enlarge
Mites Hot and dry Feed on the Maintain optimum and cover the entire leaf,
conditions. underside of the humidity levels in the turning the leaf chlorotic
leaves. The leaves greenhouse. If heavy and eventually necrotic.
appear streaked or infestation, spray the Botrytis High Very small, light brown Provide ample
spotted due to lack plants with strong jet of Petal Blight Humidity or black spots on the ventilation.
of chlorophyll. In plain water to dislodge and moisture flower petals. Under Dithane M-45
severe cases of the mites. retention on very high humid @ 1.5 gm / lit.
mite population, the petals for conditions, fungal
webbing is prolonged growth can be observed
observed. periods. on these spots.

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 Non-Pathogenic damage
1. Sun burn:
Exposure of leaves to too much light for prolonged period. Characterized
by the sudden appearance of black spots on the leaves.
2. Mesophyll cellular collapse:
Sudden cold temperature or watering the plants with cold water. Burn-like
symptoms appear in patches on the leaves.
3. Salt Burn:
Deposition of fertilizer salts on the flower petals, leading to burning of
the flower petals.
4. Edema:
Blister-like lesions on the upper or lower surface of the leaves, stem,
flower petals etc. Occurs when plants are watered during warm days
and the nights turn cool or during periods of cool weather when water
quantity and/or frequency is not reduced. Excess water is absorbed by
the roots, quicker than it is lost by the leaves, causing swelling of plant
cells and producing blister-like lesions.

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