White Swallow Orchid - Origin, characteristics, growing method and price list

Dendrobium formosum is a rare wild orchid, notable for its very large, pure white flowers with impressive yellow pistils and a pleasant fragrance.

White Swallow Orchid (scientific name: Dendrobium formosum) is one of the rare and valuable wild orchid species with high collectible value. It stands out with its "huge" sized flowers with pure white color, sweet fragrance and good adaptability, suitable for both beginners and long-time growers.

In today's article, let's learn more about the origin, characteristics, and techniques for growing and caring for the White Swallow orchid to see why this orchid is so "popular"!

Origin of White Swallow Orchid

White Swallow Orchid with large flower size and characteristic white - yellow color.

White Swallow Orchid, also known as White Swallow Orchid, Forest White Swallow, scientific name is Dendrobium formosum, belongs to the genus Dendrobium.

This is a wild orchid native to Asia, occurring naturally in the following countries:

• India, Bhutan, Nepal
• Thailand, Laos, Cambodia,...
• Vietnam: Lam Dong, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and some northwestern mountainous provinces.

White Swallow Orchids often live on tall trees or damp cliffs at an altitude of 800 - 1800m above sea level, where the climate is cool and humid all year round.

This orchid species was first found in India around the 19th century. Later, thanks to its pure beauty and charming fragrance, it was introduced to Europe and widely grown in greenhouses.

In Vietnam alone, Bach Nhan is one of the native wild orchid species that orchid enthusiasts consider rare and valuable. However, the number of this orchid species in the wild is seriously decreasing due to overexploitation.

White Orchid possesses pure beauty

Close-up of the stem, roots, leaves and flowers of the White Swallow Dendrobium orchid.

The White Swallow Orchid is considered one of the wild orchids with the most pure and special beauty thanks to its large flower size and pure white color. Below is a detailed description of the physical characteristics of this orchid species, please learn more.

Close :

• Pseudobulb, cylindrical, 30 - 80 cm high, even more than 1 m if optimally cared for.
• Has a glossy green color, clearly divided into segments.
• Stems are upright or slightly curved, growing in clusters.

Leaves :

• Leaves are alternate, long, thick, lanceolate with blunt tips, 7 - 15 cm long, 2 - 3 cm wide.
• Leaves are dark green, glossy, with clear grooves
• Often sheds leaves when entering the "dormant" phase

Flower :

• The inflorescence arises from the tip of a mature pseudobulb.
• Usually, 1 stem only grows 1 flower spike, 1 spike has 1 - 3 large flowers.
• Flowers are very large, 7 - 10 cm in diameter.
• The petals are pure white, slightly curved and soft.
• The flower lip is large, with a pale yellow or orange spot in the middle that looks very prominent.
• Flowers have a sweet, pleasant fragrance
• Flowers bloom from June to August of the lunar calendar, flowers last from 10 to 20 days.

How to grow & care for White Orchid from A - Z

Technical instructions for growing white orchids.

If you are interested in the White Swallow orchid, do not miss the detailed instructions on how to grow this orchid shared below. Guaranteed to have a lot of interesting knowledge and experience to help you succeed right from the first try.

Selecting and processing white swallow orchid varieties

First, you need to choose the standard White Swallow orchid variety and process the variety to help the orchid pot grow best with few pests and diseases.

A good orchid seedling needs to meet the following criteria:

• Big, fat body, no pests or diseases
• If choosing tissue culture products, you should choose plants 10 - 15 cm high, with roots.
• If choosing wild products, choose tame stems or at least 1 year old to shorten care time.

After selecting the right seedlings, it is necessary to carry out preliminary treatment to avoid fungal diseases:

• Cut off damaged, rotten, old roots
• Disinfect the cut by applying lime and scar glue.
• Soak the plant in antifungal medicine such as Physan 20, Ridomil for 15 - 20 minutes
• Hang the tree in a cool place for 1-2 days to let the tree dry and heal before starting to plant.

Prepare growing medium for white swallow orchid

You can grow White Swallow orchids by grafting wood or planting in pots, here are some suitable substrates for this orchid species. Let's find out now.

• Driftwood, coconut fiber, longan wood, star apple
• Terracotta pot + charcoal + shredded coconut fiber + coconut fiber

Note :

The growing media must be treated by soaking in lime water and dried before planting to avoid pathogens.

How to grow and graft white swallow orchids

Growing and grafting white orchids will be very easy if you follow the instructions below.

Growing white orchids in pots :

• Line the bottom of the pot with a layer of pumice and charcoal.
• Add the growing medium of crushed charcoal, coconut fiber, and pine bark to ⅔ of the pot.
• Place the White Swallow root on top, tilt it slightly then secure it with a stick or wire.
• Cover the orchid base with a thin layer of moss.
• Place the pot in a cool, shady place for the first week.

Grafting white orchid onto cork/wood board :

• Place the orchid root on a cork board or wood, then secure the root with U-pins and nylon rope.
• Do not tighten too much to avoid damaging the orchid roots.
• Cover the base with a thin layer of coconut husk to increase moisture retention.
• Hang the board/wood in a cool, diffused light place.

Caring for white orchids from A to Z

The important condition that determines whether your White Orchid pot will grow strongly, bloom beautifully, stay fresh for a long time and in season or not is knowing how to take care of it properly, from watering, fertilizing to planting location. Please follow the detailed instructions here.

Optimal living conditions for White Egret orchids :

• Light : 60 - 70% scattering, avoid strong midday sun
• Temperature : 18 - 30 degrees Celsius, a large difference between day and night is best
• Humidity : About 60 - 80%
• Ventilation : Breathable, avoid strong winds, avoid splashing rain

Watering properly :

• Growing season : Water 1 - 2 times/day, depending on the weather
• Holiday season (July-August) : Reduce watering, only mist about 3 times/week to maintain humidity.

Fertilize according to each stage of development of the orchid:

• Development stage (December - February) : Fertilize with diluted NPK 30-10-10 + TE every 2 weeks combined with B1, Atonik and some organic fertilizers such as fish protein, soybeans to provide nutrients for strong plant growth.
• Stem growth stage (March - May) : Switch to NPK 20-20-20, add Ca, Mg, organic fertilizer to help the plant store energy well, preparing for the dormant season.
• Flower bud differentiation stage (June - July) : Spray NPK 6-30-30 fertilizer, organic fertilizer such as fish fertilizer, increase potassium, reduce nitrogen to stimulate buds.
• Flowering period (July - October) : Water lightly to keep moist

Disease prevention for white orchids :

• Maintain a well-ventilated environment with moderate diffused light.
• Do not water in the evening, do not let water accumulate at the base.
• Do not overuse nitrogen fertilizer because it can cause side effects such as softening tissues, attracting aphids and fungal growth.
• Regularly prune yellow leaves, diseased leaves, and dry roots
• The substrate should be replaced every 1 - 2 years.
• Spray fungicides, red spiders, worms, and aphids regularly according to the instructions on the package. Some suitable drugs are Physan 20, Ridomil Gold, nano silver,...
• Spray Topsin M, Anvil every 10 days to prevent leaf spots.
• Spread slug bait and lime powder to prevent snails from eating young roots and shoots.
• You can use traditional methods such as mixing a diluted solution of garlic + chili + ginger to prevent pests in the safest way.

White Orchid Price List

Currently, the price of White Orchid fluctuates a lot, depending on the origin, region, season and age of the flower. For more detailed information, please refer to the following price list.

Questions and answers about white geese orchid

Is the white orchid difficult to grow?

No, although it is a rare wild orchid, the White Swallow orchid is quite easy to grow, especially for the purebred lines. You just need to pay attention to light, humidity, watering and fertilizing appropriately for each stage.

Are white geese orchids fragrant?

Yes, the White Orchid has a light, slightly sweet and very pleasant fragrance.

How long does it take for the white orchid to bloom?

If you plant the White Egret from a young plant, it will take about 1-2 years for the plant to mature and flower. If you plant it from a mature stem, the plant can flower in the first year.

Beautiful White Orchid Pictures

We invite you to admire the images of the White Swallow orchid with its pure, pristine beauty that we have collected below to understand why this orchid is so "HOT".

White swallow orchid flowers with characteristic white - orange color.

A pot of white geese orchid has a harmonious beauty with white flowers and green leaves.

Close-up of the white geese orchid with its purest beauty.

Super big and super beautiful white geese orchid flowers.

The white-eyed orchid flowers shine in the dark.

Through the above article, orchid-vn.com has shared with you a lot of interesting information related to the White Swallow orchid - a rare wild orchid with impressive beauty and pleasant fragrance. If you do not like colorful orchids, the White Swallow orchid will be a perfect choice.

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