Dendrobium ‘Bardo Rose’ is one of the early crosses between Dendrobium species, a hybrid between D.falcorostrum and D.kingianum. Fragrant flowers, smaller growing than D.kingianum and also being easy to grow make this a desirable orchid for home gardeners.
One more desirable attribute is its ability to grow well outdoors in temperate climate zones, so this one will grow well outdoors at least as far south as Melbourne.
In cooler zones it will benefit from protection from cold winds.
The degree of fragrance is largely determined by temperature, in warmer climates the fragrance will be stronger.
How to Grow Dendrobium Orchid ‘Bardo Rose’
Suited to growing a mounted plant on trees, tree fern slabs and other such mounts as well as on rocks where the root system would naturally be surrounded by leaf litter.
This is a plant that likes a wet dry cycle, constant wet soil soil will quickly cause root problems.
- Growing medium/soil
If you are growing ‘Bardo Rose’ in terracotta pots using a free draining potting mix works well. Try a mixture of fine and medium pine bark, or a cactus and succulent mix with some added pine park. - Watering
During winter cut right back on watering, the plant is in dormancy during this period and a cold and wet conditions mean death to this wonderful little orchid.
From spring through summer water the plant regularly, every 4 – 7 days. - Light
Best grown in good filtered light, too much direct hot sun will cause leaf burn and dry out the growing medium too quickly.
Too little light will inhibit flowering. - Fertiliser
Use a specialist orchid fertiliser every 3 – 4 weeks from spring through summer. - Temperature
Avoid frosts and freezes, although “Bardo Rose” will take low temperatures, long exposure to temperature below 2C will not be tolerated.
Varieties
This is a hybrid and after the original cross a number of crosses using the same parent plants have been made.
- Berowro is one with white flowers.
- More Australian Native Orchids