Dendrochilum I have included my 20 or so Dendrochilums on this site because, like Coelogynes, they are part of the higher level category, Coelogynae. This beautiful group of about 200 very quaint, small to miniature orchids come from the Philippines through to Borneo. They are sometimes known as necklace orchids because they have numerous small flowers on long pendulous 'strings'. There are some species that should be in every collection and probably on every kitchen window sill. Individually, the flowers are insignificant but when grown into a specimen size plant the impact is stunning.
Pholidota This genus from the Coelogynae group comprises about 40 species from Asia, New Guinea, the Philippines and some Pacific islands. They are not as widely cultivated as many orchids and only a handful are available.
Pleione Pleiones are a very beautiful group of deciduous orchids sometimes known as window orchids because of European habits of growing them in window boxes. The spectacular flowers are enormous for the size of the plant. Only Pleione formosana is in this collection. Many find them tricky to grow.
Bletia, Otochilus and Chelonistele Bletia, Otochilus and Chelonistele (sometimes known as Coelogyne ramosii) are other rare genera with small flowers and at this stage mainly of interest to specialist collectors or researchers.
 
   
  Linked Dendrochilum Pages
  Dendrochilum abortum
  Dendrochilum arachnites
  Dendrochilum  banksii
  Dendrochilum cobbianum
  Dendrochilum convallariforme
  Dendrochilum cootesii
  Dendrochilum cornutum
  Dendrochilum curranii
Dendrochilum filiforme
  Dendrochilum glumaceum
  Dendrochilum javieri
  Dendrochilm latifolium
  Dendrochilum magnum
  Dendrochilum microchilum
  Dendrochilum pangasinanense
  Dendrochilum pulcherrimum
  Dendrochilum quadrilobium
  Dendrochilum rhombophorum
  Dendrochilum saccolabium
  Dendrochilum stenophyllum
  Dendrochilum tenellum
  Dendrochilum undescribed species
  Dendrochilum vanoverberghii
  Dendrochilum wenzellii
  Dendrochilum williamsii
  Dendrochilum yuccafolium
Notes: The 270 named Dendrochilums are mainly small plants with tiny flowers densely populated along pendulous spikes. They often look insignificant until the plant is grown into a large specimen size and then the plant takes on an amazing attraction . Coming from mossy cloud forest areas they all require warm, humid growing conditions and are not suited to cool to cold areas unless cultivated under glass.

In cultivation, they should be grown with other small plants for two reasons. Firstly, because the plants are small they are generally grown in small pots. All orchids (or other plants) in small pots, dry out very quickly. If mixed with larger pots, the small pots will be too wet or the large pots will be too dry. Secondly, in a mixed pot size collection, it is incredibly easy to create 'rain shadows' where water is blocked off by large leaves, or, large leaves funnel and drain water onto a small pot causing water-logging.
                                              
  Some Pholidota Species
  Pholidota chinensis
  Pholidota gibbosa
  Pholidota imbricata
  Pholidota carnea
  Pholidota ventricosa
  Pholidota rubra
   
Notes: These orchids are very closely related to Coelogynes and Dendrochilums. They tend to have pendulous flowers spikes with two rows of small flowers. Although not as popular as their cousins, they are very attractive and some are very easy to grow and flower prolifically. If they were more available for purchase in nurseries, their popularity would certainly be much higher.
    Pholidota are variable in native growth habit. They grow as epiphytes (on tree trunks), lithophytes (on rocks) or as terrestrials (on the soil in litter).