Dendrobium aemulum

Ironbark orchid

A small epiphytic Dendrobium from the east coast of Australia and New Caledonia, with short reddish pseudobulbs, two or three leathery leaves and sprays of white, feathery, night-scented flowers in late winter and spring. It grows on trees that keep their bark, such as ironbarks, brush box and cypress pine, in open forest as well as rainforest. Mount it, give it bright light and strong airflow, and let it dry quickly between waterings.

Dendrobium aemulum — Photo: Eric in SF, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on trees (epiphyte)

Where it grows wild

An epiphyte on trees with persistent rough bark, especially ironbarks, brush box (Lophostemon confertus) and cypress pines (Callitris), in sclerophyll open forest and rainforest. Forms on ironbarks in open forest grow in brighter, drier conditions than the rainforest forms on brush box.

GBIF records run from 100 to 960 m, with a median of 500 m, although in New South Wales it also occurs close to the coast.

Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)New Caledonia

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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More Dendrobium

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 3.0 licence, unmodified.