It’s not enough to say that you are a fan of the Dendrobium orchid. The genus includes more than 1,000 species.

Dendrobiums by the way, are epiphytes, meaning that in their native habitat they attach themselves to, and live independently of, trees.

Nobile is a hybrid of the Dendrobium phalaenopsis and, although they are cared for quite similarly, Nobile has a few very specific requirements.

Oh, and Nobile Dendrobium orchids are deciduous, so don’t be frightened when yours loses all of its leaves in the winter.

Here’s what you will need to take care of your Nobile Dendrobium orchid:

• Orchid bark
• Small planting pot
• Orchid fertilizer, liquid, water soluble

Plant your orchid in orchid bark. These orchids like to be pot-bound, so a small pot is perfectly fine. We plant ours in these small plastic pots (available at Amazon), and then place it in a more decorative pot, just slightly larger.

Place your dendrobium nobile orchid outdoors in the fall. The cooler temperatures will prompt it to set buds. Make sure you bring it back indoors prior to the onset of frost, and place it in a cool area, such as an unheated room, until the buds begin to form.

Then, bring it in to a normal room temperature. During the remainder of the year your orchid will thrive in any temperature between 65- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit, although they prefer cooler temperatures.

Give your Nobile dendrobium orchid lots of bright light in the fall and winter, but reduced light in the spring and summer. This can be accomplished by moving the plant closer to a window for increased lighting and further away for less light. At no time should the plant be in the shade, but filtered sunlight in the spring and summer is optimal.

Water the orchid as soon as new growth appears in the spring, every three days if it is in a 3-inch pot, every five days if it is in a 4-inch pot and every seven days if it is in a 6-inch pot. Once fall arrives, you will want to cut back to watering it once a week.

Fertilize your Nobile orchid once a month by adding 1 tsp. of liquid orchid fertilizer to one gallon of water. Or, use our favorite (you really need to try this stuff) Hello Orchid, available at Amazon.com.

In spring, as soon as you see new growth, increase the frequency to every two weeks and then withhold fertilizer completely in the fall, while the orchid is dormant.

Orchid leaves turning yellow? Find out why and how to fix the problem.

Image: Maja Dumat – Creative Commons License BY 2.0