How to Grow Dendrochilum (Chain Orchids) in Australia

Chain orchids – the former Dendrochilum, now included in Coelogyne (see what happened to Dendrochilum) – are some of the most satisfying orchids for Australian growers. They are compact, tolerant of a range of conditions, and a mature clump in flower carries dozens of fine chains of small flowers at once. Most come from mountain forest in the Philippines, Borneo and Sumatra, which is why many handle cooler southern Australian conditions well.

Choosing species for your climate

• Adaptable, intermediate: Coelogyne wenzelii (formerly D. wenzelii; we grow a red form and an orange form) and C. lagarophylla (formerly D. stenophyllum) grow at low to middle altitudes and tolerate both warm days and cool nights. C. wenzelii has been reported by Australian growers handling winter lows around 5°C without harm. Good first chain orchids.
• Cool to intermediate: C. cobbiana, C. saccolabium, C. javieriana and C. tenella come from higher altitudes. They suit cool, humid places such as the Dandenong Ranges and need protection from sustained summer heat in warmer areas.

Potting and mounting

Use a small pot of fine to medium bark with a little perlite and sphagnum, or sphagnum alone for small plants. Chain orchids flower best slightly pot-bound, so resist moving them into a much larger pot; a 100mm slotted clear pot suits most young clumps. Many also grow well on tree fern or cork mounts – C. wenzelii is often grown this way – provided you can water mounted plants daily in warm weather.

Through the seasons

Spring

New growths appear and, in many species, the flower spike develops with them. Repot or divide now if needed, keeping clumps of several pseudobulbs together. Increase watering and begin regular, weak feeding.

Summer

The main growing season. Water freely, feed regularly and keep air moving. In hot spells, increase shade and damp down the growing area. A max/min thermometer shows how hot it actually got while you were out. The high-altitude species are the ones to watch above the high 20s.

Autumn

New pseudobulbs mature. Keep watering regularly, but start reducing feed as nights cool.

Winter

Reduce watering, but don’t let pseudobulbs shrivel; chain orchids do not want a hard dry rest. Protect from frost. In an unheated shadehouse or glasshouse in southern Victoria, the adaptable species continue through winter with little fuss.

Light, humidity and air

Bright filtered light, humidity of 60% or more, and steady air movement. Fine-leaved species such as C. tenella show dry air quickly as brown leaf tips; for more on reading those, see why your chain orchid won’t flower.

Water quality

Rainwater is ideal. Chain orchids tolerate reasonable tap water better than many pleurothallids, but salt build-up still shows over time as browning tips. Flush pots with plain water monthly.

Getting a specimen

The most impressive chain orchids are large clumps that have been left undivided for years. If you want a specimen, pot on into a slightly larger pot when the clump reaches the rim rather than dividing it, and keep it growing strongly every season.

For full culture, see the Coelogyne & Dendrochilum Orchid Care Guide. You can also browse our current Coelogyne and chain orchids.