New to 365 days, this is one of our favourite Dendrobium species. Dendrobium bellatulum is a small growing plant (the bulbs on this first flowering seedling are just 3cm long) with huge flowers. The lovely flower that has just opened today is just under 5cm across.

Dendrobium bellatulum is native to forests from India right across to Vietnam and is found from 700m to 2100m altitude is forests with a distinct dry season in the winter.

We don’t find this the easiest species in cultivation but have grown it successfully both cool and warm but find it only does well mounted so that it can dry out between waterings. We now grow the species high in the roof of our Warm Asia section as we found that growing it cooler resulted in too much moss developing on the mount during the wet summer period and this causing roots to rot during the winter rest. Plants flower quickly from seed but we have found that they dislike dividing.

Although a little tricky the species is well worth persevering with as the flowers are very long lasting. Come and see this plants at our forthcoming shows (Bournemouth and London) and decide for yourself.