How To Grow Dendrobium | Commercial Model | Farming Inspirations

Описание: Dendrobium belongs to a large genus of orchids which is widely cultivated for its beautiful flowers varying in white, yellow, pink, purple & red.

Due to its growing demand, it has the highest selling value in the cut flower market.

In India, there is a wide gap between demand and supply which is being met from Thailand.

Dendrobium grows well in high altitude regions preferring cool & humid conditions.

This limits dendrobium to grow in plains as it requires optimal growing conditions.

Employing naturally ventilated poly houses, it is possible to grow dendrobium on a commercial scale

Climate:

There are two critical phases that has to be taken care of during crop development.
One is growth phase and the other is flowering phase.

Dendrobium normally requires 20 to 25 degree celsius during its growth phase and 19 to 21 degree celsius during its flowering phase.

Along with temperature, the relative humidity should be maintained at 60-80%.

Dendrobium is usually grown on open benches that have good air circulation. These benches are fabricated with GI pipes supported by 50% shadenet with misters of 15 LPH discharge capacity at the bottom and spinners at the top with a discharge of 200 LPH.

GI benches are 1-1.2 m wide maintained at a height of 1 m from the ground with bench to bench spacing of 0.5-0.8 m

Coal of 8 mm sieve is used as a media for orchid. For 1 sq.m., 10 kg of coal is required.

Dendrobium is a terrestrial epiphytic plant. The characteristic feature is, it has velamen roots i.e. which absorbs moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere.

Hence, there is no direct/special irrigation requirement to dendrobiums. It takes from the humidified atmosphere being provided daily through spinners and misters.

Based on outside climatic conditions, an average daily operation of misters and spinners need to be followed.

During summer, spinners and misters should be operated once in an hour for 3-4 minutes, between 11 am to 5 pm.

During Rainy & Winter, they should be operated once in 2-3 hours for 2-3 minutes, between 11 am to 4 pm.

As plants won’t withstand any single droplet of water, it should be completely dried.

Fertilizer & nutrients application are done through foliage spray and media drenching at respective time intervals.

19:19:19 - 8 Kg / month
Spray schedule - weekly twice @ 2 gram/litre of water (Total fluid required per half acre is 500 litres per spray)

12:61:0 - 4 Kg / month
Media drenching - weekly once @ 2gram/litre of water (Total fluid required per half acre is 500 litres per drenching)

Calcium Nitrate (CaNO3) - 10 Kg / month
Spray schedule - weekly once @ 5gram/litre of water (Total fluid required per half acre is 500 litres per spray)

13:0:45 - 8 Kg / month
Spray schedule - weekly twice @ 2gram/litre of water (Total fluid required per half acre is 500 litres per spray)

Micronutrients - 4 Kg / month
Spray schedule - weekly twice @ 1gram/litre of water (Total fluid required per half acre is 500 litres per spray)

Sucking complexes are major pest in orchids like thrips and mites and snailsDiseases: Bacterial and fungal rots are observed.As per the incidence of pest and diseases control measures are being taken up.

Flowering starts 6 months after plantation. During first year the crop yields 2 stems per plant, followed by 4 stems per plant in 2nd year. From 3rd year onwards, the plant yields 6 to 8 stems per plant.

On an average the anticipated yearly yield per 0.25 acre of area is 60 thousand stems.

If each flower stalk is valued at a price of Rs. 10, it would yield a total gross income of 6 lakhs.

Excluding initial investments, the operational cost for a year incurs around 0.9 lakhs and thereby fetching a net income of Rs.5.10 lakhs.