AboutOrchids Home

« Wildlife Officials Fight To Protect Rare Orchid
Historic Lady Slipper Hybrids »

The Blue Orchid: Queen Victoria’s Dendrobium

This fragile-looking Dendrobium species is tougher than it looks. Queen Victoria’s Dendrobium was named to celebrate the British monarch. It’s nicknamed the Blue Orchid, since some specimens have a blue hue, but my plant is decidedly purple.

Dendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in San Francisco, California, white and purple flowers hanging down from pseudobulbsDendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California, white and purple flowers hanging down from pseudobulbsDendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California, white and purple flowers hanging down from pseudobulbs

In four years since I bought this orchid, it’s been through the mill, but somehow survived and flowered. As a cool grower, this species lives outdoors. It’s been sunburned, almost frozen, and become a favorite target for raccoons. On several occasions, it’s been reduced to a single cane (or pseudobulb,) but managed to grow back. The plant adapted well last year after we moved from San Francisco to Pacifica, and has been happily blooming despite all the damage.

Dendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California, side view of white and purple flowersDendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in San Francisco, California, flower buds starting to emerge from pseudobulbsDendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California, white and purple flowers hanging down from pseudobulbs

Native to high elevations in the Philippines, Queen Victoria’s Dendrobium likes cool, moist, shady conditions. It needs constant high humidity and good air movement. This species can handle warm days, but needs cool nights down to 50°F (10°C.) Don’t let it go below 41°F (5°C.) Since the canes tend to droop, it grows best mounted, not in a pot. This variety can flower repeatedly throughout the year, always on older canes which have lost their leaves. The Blue Orchid is both beautiful and tough, perfect for cool, breezy conditions.

Dendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in San Francisco, California, flower buds starting to emerge from pseudobulbsDendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California, white and purple flowersDendrobium victoriae-reginae, orchid species from the Philippines, grown outdoors in Pacifica, California, white and purple flowers hanging down from pseudobulbs

Explore posts in the same categories: Cool Growers, Growing, Photos, Watering

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 18th, 2015 at 8:30 pm and is filed under Cool Growers, Growing, Photos, Watering.

Subscribe to the About Orchids Blog:
AddThis Feed Button

Both comments and pings are currently closed.

One Comment on “The Blue Orchid: Queen Victoria’s Dendrobium”

  1. Nicole F Says:
    October 18th, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    Terrific photos! This is the kind of info that are meant to be shared around the net. Thank you =)