The invention relates to a method for planting dendrobium officinale on a living tree. The method is characterized by comprising the following steps of 1, selecting a planting site, 2, selecting and processing the living tree used for planting the dendrobium officinale, 3, selecting and processing nursery stocks, 4, planting is conducted and 5, after-planting management. The method takes full use of natural forest resources, saves the land cost and improves the yield of a standing forest, by controlling water in the planting site, pests, diseases and other aspects, the dendrobium officinale growing on the living tree is obtained, the problem that the collection period is short is solved, and the reliability and safety of the products are ensured; naturalized dendrobium officinale tissue culture seedlings vigorous in growth and developed in root system are selected as the nursery stocks, then the nursery stocks are planted on the living tree, and the survival rate is high; materials are easy to obtain, the production cost is low, the operation is simple and convenient, and the method has good economic and social and ecological benefits.