One of the largest and most colorful plant families in the world is the orchid. The Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis are best known to consumers. A little less known is the Bamboo Orchid. It is characterized by its bamboo-like stems and the flowers that bloom over the entire stem from top to bottom. This hip orchid has been named plant of the month in March! Herbert Wooning and Niels van Houten from nursery Wooning told us everything about this graceful appearance; the Dendrobium nobilé "Apollon!"

Wooning Orchids

Herbert has orchid-growing in his blood. Straight out of school, Herbert went to work with his uncle, who grew different types of orchids. When his uncle left the company in the late 1980s, Herbert continued the company. Over the years, the company has grown a lot, but the range has actually been reduced and Herbert has fully specialized in the cultivation of Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium nobilé. Under the motto "Your Style", Wooning Orchids delivers high-quality plants and the company does everything to meet the requirements of the "your style” brand.

Bamboo Orchid

Where Phalaenopsis is produced on a large scale and mainly for retail, the Dendrobium nobilé is a real showpiece for the company and a product with great market value. Where Phalaenopsis is produced on a large scale and mainly for retail, the Dendrobium nobilé is a real showpiece for the company and a product with great market value.To make the plant recognizable and give it more reach in the market, the consumer brand “Bamboo Orchid” was introduced two years ago. The Wooning Orchids team took to the streets with the plant, asking passers-by what they thought of the plant and what it looks like. They regularly received the answer "to a bamboo". So the orchid was renamed "Bamboo Orchid" and with this name Wooning conquered the consumer market; it’s a brand that stands for quality, experience and atmosphere.

In de spotlights

The Dendrobium nobilé is originally from Asia and Japan, where it grows on the trees like an epiphyte. It distinguishes itself from other orchid varieties by its special inflorescence. Most orchids flower at the top of the branch but the Dendrobium nobilé forms flower clusters in the armpits of the leaf. This means that it blooms over the entire length of the plant.
The most famous Dendrobium nobilé species is the Dendrobium nobilé "Apollon". This beautiful white orchid fits into any interior and also has a good shelf life. A plant with two branches can hold more than 50 flowers. Her bamboo-like appearance makes her even more suitable for the modern "urban jungle" style. She is graceful, exclusive, full of flour and also smells really nice; a playful, vibrant plant that you can enjoy for at least six to eight weeks.
Do you have wedding plans and do you really want something special and exclusive in your bouquet? Or do you just want a real niche product in the vase? The Dendrobium nobilé "Apollon" is also available as a cut flower!

The Bamboo Orchid likes a light location, but no direct sun light. The ideal temperature is between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius. The Bamboo Orchid likes a light location, but no direct sun light. The ideal temperature is between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius. To water the plant, it is best to immerse the plant in lukewarm tap water. After dipping, drain the plant well before it goes back into the pot. Watering needs to be done every 5 days in the summer, once a week in the winter is enough. When the plant is in bloom, it likes to be fertilized with some orchid nutrition. The Bamboo Orchid flowers for about 6 to 8 weeks. When the plant has finished flowering, it is possible to get new flowers, but this is not easy. For the enthusiast who still wants to try it, the plant must be put away in a cool light spot and the soil must not dry out. After 8 to 12 months new shoots emerge that can start flowering again.

The Dendrobium nobilé is not the easiest orchid to grow. It needs more time to grow than other orchid varieties and the shelf life of most varieties is not so good. This makes breeding new species very difficult. The Dendrobium nobilé has the most beautiful colors in its palette, but if the shelf life does not meet the requirements, the variety will not be marketed.

Three phases

The plant needs about two years to grow from cutting to being big enough to be put in a nice spot in the living room.
The plants are grown in the first phase of cultivation. The intention is that the plant produces shoots, where the flower will arrive later. The small plants arrive at Wooning Orchids as a cutting or as a plant in a laboratory container. These plants are repotted in a larger pot with coconut spead. Kokospead has the advantage that it is a good moisture regulator and most importantly; the pot worm cannot get through. Pot worms are a serious scourge for some orchid varieties, they affect the roots of the plant, so that the growth of the plant is clearly lagging behind. This animal is also difficult to combat, so preventing is better than curing in this case!

The second phase is the so-called "short day phase". The autumn and winter season are simulated by offering  fewer light hours in the greenhouse, causing the shoots to stop growing. 

In the final phase, the plant is cooled and cultivated. The temperature in the greenhouse is a few degrees lower, enabling the plant to create the flower bud. This phase lasts approximately 12 weeks. Halfway through the phase the plant goes to the breeding stage. After that the plant has created enough buds and flowers for it be sold.

Good to know

The Dendrobium nobilé flowers naturally in February. In March, after it stops flowering, the plant would normally drop its leaves. This is how the plant prepares for the warm period that is coming. It is a challenge for the grower to grow plants that will not drop the leaves but will stay green.  One variety is more susceptible to this than another, but in fact it is not natural for a Dendrobium not to release its leaves.

Your style

Wooning Orchids considers it important to respond to the wishes of the customers. With their brand ‘Your Style’ they deliver plants with added value.In addition to the Dendrobium nobilé "Apollon", Wooning also grows 7 other Bambo Orchid varieties. The plants are available in various types of ceramic pots and pot covers. There is a special paper wrap for the Bamboo Orchid line. No plastic packaging, but biodegradable paper, water-based ink and cardboard plant trays. The intense colors, the wonderful scent, delivered in the pot of your choice, make the "Bamboo Orchids" suitable for every style.

FloraPodium, 09 March 2020