🌏 Habitat and Ecology
​Dendrochilum saccolabium is a miniature epiphytic orchid endemic to the Philippines. According to Kew Plants of the World Online, its indigenous range is restricted specifically to the island of Luzon.
​It is a denizen of cool, mossy montane rainforests (cloud forests), typically found at elevations between 1,200 and 2,200 metres. In these environments, it thrives in perpetually damp, high-humidity microclimates, often found growing on moss-covered tree trunks and branches amidst cloud mist and constant moisture.
​🌿 Description and Distinguishing Features
​This member of the Orchidaceae family is prized in horticulture by collectors of miniature orchids and intricate botanicals due to its graceful, chain-like flowering habit and microscopic floral complexity. Note: It is often misspelled as Endrochilum.
​Habit: It is a sympodial, clump-forming epiphyte with tightly clustered, small, conical or fusiform pseudobulbs.
​Foliage: Each pseudobulb is topped by a single leaf. The leaves are leathery (coriaceous), narrowly lanceolate, erect to arching, and deep green.
​Flowers: The inflorescence is a slender, arching to pendulous (hanging) raceme that typically emerges synanthously (with the new growth). It carries numerous tiny bright red flowers arranged in two neat ranks (distichous) along the thin rachis. The defining feature, visible under close inspection, is the labellum (lip), which is distinctly deeply concave or sack-shaped.
​🔬 Taxonomy and Ethnobotany
​Taxonomy: It belongs to the large genus Dendrochilum within the family Orchidaceae, known for their "necklace" style inflorescences. The specific epithet saccolabium is derived from the Latin saccus (bag or sack) and labium (lip), a direct botanical reference to the distinctive pouch-like morphology of the flower's labellum.
​Ethnobotany: While specific traditional medicinal uses are not prominently documented in general botanical literature, in modern times its primary cultural value is horticultural, serving as a fascinating "micro-miniature" specimen for advanced orchid growers and terrarium enthusiasts who appreciate minute details.
​💧 Cultivation and Care
​Dendrochilum saccolabium is an excellent subject for cool orchid cases, humid terrariums, or intermediate-to-cool greenhouses, where its specific environmental needs can be met.
​Light: Requires medium, filtered indirect light. It is naturally a forest dweller; direct, harsh sun will quickly scorch the leaves.
​Substrate: Needs a moisture-retentive yet airy epiphytic mix. Fine grade orchid bark mixed with chopped sphagnum moss and perlite is ideal for pot culture. It also thrives mounted on cork bark with a sphagnum pad if humidity is very high.
​Watering: Keep the substrate consistently moist year-round. It originates from cloud forests and has low drought tolerance; pseudobulbs will shrivel quickly if allowed to dry out completely. Ensure good drainage to prevent stagnation.
​Temperature: It is a cool-to-intermediate montane plant. It dislikes significant heat and requires cooler nights.
​Daytime: 18-24 C (64-75 F).
​Night time: 12-16 C (53-61 F).
​Humidity: Very high humidity (ideally above 80%) combined with gentle air movement is crucial for mimicking its mossy forest home and preventing pests.
​✨ Unique Features
​The defining characteristic of Dendrochilum saccolabium is the intricate structure of its individual miniature flowers. The combination of the graceful, hanging chain of reddish-brown blooms contrasted against the microscopic, sack-like lip structure makes it a rewarding subject for close-up observation or macro photography.
​🏷️ Specifications
​Plant Size: divisions from our stock plant, plants in 5 - 7cm pots of 5+ growths.
Plant Family: Orchidaceae
Plant Passport: A Dendrochilum saccolabium B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB