Golden Silk Dendrobium Orchid - Characteristics, planting and care

Golden silk orchid (golden silk orchid, silk dendro) is a wild orchid with elegant beauty, light yellow flowers, soft as silk, with a scent like barley.

Golden Silk Dendrobium Orchid heterocarpum is one of the most popular native orchid species in Vietnam. They are loved by orchid enthusiasts because of their light yellow, soft, silk-like flowers and pleasant fragrance.

With its elegant beauty and ability to adapt well to our country's climate, the yellow silk orchid is not only a beautiful ornamental plant to decorate the garden but also a very meaningful gift.

In today's article, let's learn about the origin, characteristics, and techniques for growing and caring for yellow silk orchids with wild orchids to help you own beautiful orchid pots that will make everyone admire.

Introduction to Golden Silk Orchid

Learn about the origin of the Golden Silk Orchid.

Golden silk orchid, also known as golden silk orchid, silk dendro, scientific name is Dendrobium heterocarpum, belongs to the genus Dendrobium. This orchid species has a fairly wide origin and distribution range, including from the primeval forests of the Himalayas to South Asia, Southeast Asia, typically the following countries:

• India
• Myanmar, Thailand, Laos
• Vietnam: Lao Cai, Son La, Kon Tum, Lam Dong, Gia Lai,...

In the natural environment, the golden silk orchid is an epiphyte, often living on large tree trunks in primary forests, from low hills 100m to high mountains 1800m.

Classification of yellow silk orchid

Currently in Vietnam, the Golden Silk Dendrobium is divided into two main lines: the Golden Silk of the Central Highlands and the Golden Silk of the Northwest.

Golden Silk Orchid of the Central Highlands

Golden silk orchid of the Central Highlands with deep yellow color.

This is a yellow silk orchid distributed in the Central Highlands such as Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Lam Dong. This orchid has a long, thin, soft and drooping stem compared to the Northwest yellow silk. The flowers are also dark yellow or light lemon yellow, so they are often confused with the Nhat Diem Hoang orchid.

In particular, the Tay Nguyen yellow silk strain is also easier to domesticate and has fewer pests and diseases than the Tay Bac strain.

Northwest Yellow Silk Orchid

Northwest yellow silk orchid with lighter color tone.

This is a type of yellow silk that grows naturally in the mountainous regions of the Northwest such as Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Ha Giang,... Because of the cooler climate, this type of orchid has a shorter, thicker, stronger stem than the Central Highlands yellow silk. The petals are light yellow, soft and thin like silk.

General characteristics of yellow silk orchid

Close-up of the face of the yellow silk orchid.

Let's find out if the golden silk orchid has anything outstanding in shape, color and scent to make it one of the most outstanding orchid species in the orchid genus.

Close :

• Pseudobulbs are slender, cylindrical, about 30 - 120 cm high.
• Stem is straight or slightly curved, when old the stem turns yellow-green, with clear joints.

Leaves :

• Lanceolate, growing evenly on the body, 6 - 10 cm long, 1 - 2 cm wide
• Leaves are glossy green, the underside is lighter in color.
• Usually leaves fall at the end of the year to prepare for flower bud differentiation stage.

Roots :

• Roots grow in clusters, small
• Roots are white-green or brown depending on the living environment.

Flower :

• Flowers grow from dormant buds on the stem after the leaves have fallen, usually growing in clusters of 3-6 flowers.
• Flowers are about 6 cm large, pale lemon yellow, cream yellow or milky yellow.
• The petals are soft, thin and slightly shiny, looking like shimmering yellow "silk strips".
• The large flower lip is deep yellow, dotted with light purple-brown stripes that look like they are covered with a very special layer of velvet.
• The flowers have a gentle, faint fragrance like the smell of rice.
• Flowers bloom from 7 - 14 days.

Techniques for planting and caring for yellow silk orchid

Techniques for growing yellow silk orchids from A to Z.

If you are a beginner in growing Golden Silk Orchids, please refer to some basic techniques that we share below to help make growing orchids easier.

Preparation before planting yellow silk orchid

Before planting yellow silk orchids, you need to pay attention to choosing the variety and substrate. Only when you have a healthy seedling and a suitable substrate can the orchid grow optimally.

Choose yellow silk orchid variety :

• If you want a cheap price, choose wild orchids sold in bundles with 4 - 6 young stems.
• If you want easy planting and easy care, choose purebred varieties that already have roots.
• Choose seedlings with plump stems and no signs of pests or diseases.

Seed treatment :

• Cut off damaged, rotten roots, remove yellow, wilted leaves
• Soak the seedling base in a diluted Physan 20 or Benkona solution for 20 - 30 minutes to remove fungus.
• Soak the roots in B1 + Atonik solution for 15 - 20 minutes to stimulate roots.
• Leave the seedlings in a cool place to drain for about 1-2 days before planting or grafting.

Select and process the substrate :

• Some optimal substrates Coconut fiber, crow's nest fiber because it has good drainage, moderate moisture retention, and durability.
• If planting in pots, you can choose pine bark, coconut fiber, charcoal, baked clay,...
• After purchasing the growing medium, you need to wash it clean of dirt, soak it in lime water for 1-2 days to kill pathogens, then dry it before starting to plant and graft orchids.

Techniques for growing yellow silk orchids

When planting yellow silk orchids, in addition to choosing the right time, you need to carry out the right techniques to help the orchids take root soon, develop good stems and leaves. Please proceed to plant according to the following steps.

Grafting orchids onto wood and coconut fiber :

• Use nylon wire, zip ties, or soft wire to fix the orchid stem to the substrate.
• Leave the roots in contact with the growing medium, do not tighten too much to avoid damaging the plant.
• Use a thin layer of moss to cover the base to retain moisture but keep it airy.

Growing yellow silk orchids in pots :

• Place a layer of large charcoal and pumice stone at the bottom of the pot to help the pot drain optimally.
• Place the orchid root in the middle of the pot, cover with substrate, and secure with a stick.
• Do not bury the roots too deep to avoid crushing the trunk.

How to care after planting yellow silk orchid

The golden silk orchid is a species that likes light, cannot stand strong sunlight and waterlogging, so you need to pay attention to daily care. Specifically as follows:

Light and temperature:

• Hang the pot in a cool place, away from strong winds, rain or harsh sunlight.
• Maintain 50 - 70% diffuse light
• Daytime temperature from 21 - 28 degrees Celsius, night time from 15 - 21 degrees Celsius

Watering properly :

• Maintain high humidity, water a lot in hot dry season, avoid waterlogging at the base or water stagnant on the leaves.
• In winter and rainy season, reduce watering, just spray mist with moderate frequency to provide enough moisture.

Fertilize according to each stage of development :

• New planting stage : Spray B1 every 2 weeks to stimulate roots.
• Growth stage : Fertilize with vermicompost pellets or NPK 20-20-20 to help plants grow best.
• Pre-flowering stage : NPK 10-30-20 fertilizer to promote bud formation.
• Maintain rotation : Organic fertilizers such as oil cake, goat manure, apply every 2 months

Pest control for yellow silk orchids:

• Regularly observe the orchid condition to detect early signs of abnormalities.
• Do not let water accumulate at the base of the orchid because it can easily cause waterlogging and root rot.
• Spray fungicide regularly
• Orchid garden must be airy and clean

Price list of yellow silk orchid

Currently, the price of Golden Silk Orchid in the Vietnamese market fluctuates quite a lot, depending on the origin, species and orchid condition. You can refer to some of the following prices.

• 4 bunches of young yellow silk orchids (each bunch has many stems) : 50,000 VND/bunch excluding shipping fee, selling price on the group "Facebook orchid association).
• Golden silk orchid in part form for collection : 100,000 - 120,000 VND/part.
• 1 bunch of yellow silk orchid : 250,000 - 300,000 VND, old type, ready to bloom.

Questions and answers about Golden Silk Orchid

Is the golden silk orchid easy to grow?

For the domesticated yellow silk orchid line, it is very easy to grow even for people without much experience.

Is the yellow silk orchid fragrant?

Yes, yellow silk orchids have a light, pleasant fragrance, similar to the smell of barley.

How is the golden silk orchid propagated?

There are three ways to propagate yellow silk orchids: separating the rootstock (most common), cutting old stems and tissue culture.

Golden Silk Orchid Image

To help you visualize the Golden Silk Orchid better, below we have collected many beautiful images of this orchid, from close-ups of the flower face to giant orchid pots blooming brilliantly. What are you waiting for? Let's admire them right away!

A giant yellow silk orchid.

Close-up of the yellow silk orchid with beautiful, even flower form.

The yellow silk orchids are in full bloom.

A branch of yellow silk orchid is blooming.

Through the information that orchid-vn.com shares above, it can be seen that the Golden Silk Dendrobium is a beautiful wild orchid, with impressive colors with golden flowers, soft as silk, bringing an elegant and gentle beauty.

If you are looking for a beautiful, fragrant, easy-to-grow orchid, don't miss the golden silk, I guarantee you will be very satisfied.

Don't forget to visit our Blog section regularly for more interesting information about the world of orchids.