Influence of potting medium, pot type and growing structure on vertical farming of Dendrobium orchid cv. Emma White

Vertical farming is emerging as a sustainable and innovative approach for cultivating high-value crops like Dendrobium orchids. The present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of potting medium, pot type and growing structure on growth and flowering of Dendrobium cv. Emma White, during 2022-2024. Plants cultivated on vertical frames with potting medium comprising coconut husk, charcoal and tile bits (1:1:1 v/v) in netted pots exhibited the highest pseudo bulb count (4.40), pseudo bulb length (23.35 cm) and internodal length (5.25 cm). However, plants grown in charcoal medium in netted pots on vertical frames recorded maximum number (5.18), length (13.78 cm), width (4.94 cm) and area (55.99 cm2) of leaf as well as enhanced flowering attributes, such as the earliest spike initiation (175.33 days), maximum spikes plant-1 (8.88), florets spike-1 (7.67), spike length (49.38 cm), floret diameter (6.30 cm), spike longevity on plant (62.33 days) and vase life (42.00 days). In contrast, plants cultivated on horizontal benches in 6-inch pots using tile bit and potting medium exhibited the lowest vegetative and flowering performance. Pearson correlation results indicated positive correlation of incident PAR (79.30%) with spike production. The findings underscore that orchid cultivation in charcoal medium in netted pots on vertical frames registered higher production of flower spikes with a favourable cost benefit ratio of 3.77. Vertical farming of Dendrobium orchids can thus ensure higher productivity and enhanced income from unit area compared to conventional horizontal farming.