This is a really large dendrobium with pseudobulbs over 2m long which start by growing upwards and eventually become pendulous.

Dendrobium fairchildiae is native to the Philippines and one of the stars of the Greenhouse in Autumn. Pseudobulbs become deciduous before flowering over a period of several years.

The flowers are produced simultaneously on old bulbs aged from around two to five years old and form clusters near the end of the bulbs. The flowers are large (5cm across) and attractively splashed in pink. With six pseudobulbs flowering together this plant is making a lovely display.

The species is reported as growing on exposed rocks above 1200m but we find it does best in a basket hung high in Warm Asia so that the long pseudobulbs can hang freely (see below). There are no flowers on the actively growing bulbs that still have leaves.

We have recently repotted the plant into a mushroom tray and it enjoys lots of water throughout the year.