Habitat and Ecology
 
​Dendrobium trigonopus (from the Section Formosae) is a small-sized, semi-deciduous epiphytic or lithophytic orchid native to Indochina and Southern China, with a distribution including Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Yunnan Province. It grows on tree trunks and shaded rocks in open forests, often in areas covered with low bushy vegetation, at elevations typically between 600 and 1,600 metres. Its habitat has a distinct seasonal monsoon climate with a hot, wet growing season followed by a cool, bright, and dry winter rest, which is critical for flower induction.
 
​Description
 
​This orchid is a compact perennial that forms dense clusters of short, tufted, fusiform (spindle-shaped) pseudobulbs (up to 15 cm tall). A distinctive feature of its section is the presence of fine black hairs covering the leaf sheaths, though these may be less conspicuous than in other Formosae members. The canes carry a few apical, persistent, narrow, leathery leaves which may be shed during the winter rest.
 
​The plant is prized for its exquisite flowers, which are produced on short spikes from the nodes near the apex of the mature canes, blooming in late winter to spring. The blooms are relatively large (3-4 cm wide), waxy, glossy, and intensely golden-yellow or yellow-green. The species name trigonopus (meaning 'three-footed') refers to the three-ridged (or three-keeled) callus on the lip. The lip (labellum) is large, broad, and conspicuously cupped, with the centre often being a deeper golden or brownish-yellow. The flowers are typically sweetly and strongly fragrant.
 
​Cultivation
 
​Dendrobium trigonopus is an intermediate-to-cool growing orchid that demands a strict seasonal cycle to flower reliably. It requires bright, high, filtered light; maximum exposure to winter sun (when leafless) is crucial. It grows well mounted on cork bark or potted in a coarse, fast-draining medium (bark, charcoal, and perlite). The plant needs a clear seasonal shift: water heavily during the warm growing season. In winter, watering must be severely reduced (enough only to prevent the canes from excessive shrivelling) and feeding stopped to initiate blooming.
 
​Optimal Daytime Temperature (Growing Season): 25-30 C (77-86 F)
​Optimal Nighttime Temperature (Winter Rest): A cool drop is necessary, ideally 10-14 C (50-57 F).
​High humidity (60-80%) is preferred, alongside strong air circulation. Water with tepid, soft water.
 
​Unique Features
 
​This orchid is a spectacular collector's species known for its intense, saturated, golden-yellow flowers that are waxy, glossy, and strongly fragrant. The large, cupped lip with its three prominent ridges is its signature feature. Its compact, clumping habit and its reliable late winter/spring bloom make it a highly desirable and visually rewarding specimen for the cool-intermediate orchid enthusiast.
 
​Specifications
​Plant Size: As seen in the picture
​Plant Family: Orchidaceae
​Plant Passport: A Dendrobium trigonopus B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB