Members of this "Dendrobium nobile genus" are grouped together based on their similar environmental requirements. Most of the species mentioned in this article are native to regions north of the Tropic of Cancer, these orchids can hardly be described as tropical.
With the change of the day-length and cooler night temperatures of the coming winter, The nobile Dendrobiums and their hybrids begin to make their transition preparing for their winter nap. Their leaves turn yellow and fall off, not needing them for the next few months. By the time winter arrives they will be in a complete dormant condition. From November to February keep the plants dry. A light spraying is permissible if the canes are very shriveled but should not be necessary. Provide lots of light and good air circulation. By spring the plants will look very neglected with shriveled pseudobulbs and no leaves and if you did not know better you would think they were dead and ready for the trash heap.
In February the signs of growth activity should be appearing. After the cold of winter, they prefer day temperatures of 13°c to 29°c and night temperatures around 10°c. From March to the end for August the growing period begins and you will see new growth and leaves. New roots may not be seen until April when the flowering becomes established. If the nobiles did not receive sufficient cold during the winter they will produce keikis instead of flowers. If you provide them with their particular needs during the winter, they will produce fragrant flowers which emerge from the top of their canes all the way down to the roots. These orchids are very fragrant and will fill your garden with their seducing scent. Many of the hybrids of this type have been bred and trained so the “canes” are grown upright. The weight of the flowers often will bend the canes back to the normal pendulous shape.
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