A Question for the Aussies - Dockrillia linguiforme

[Anton]

I have finally been able to take possession of dad's Dockrillia linguiforme from my elder brother, who I might add has had it since dad died 23 years without telling me. He voluntarilly offered it to me before Xmas, but due to our schedules, have only just been able to connect to exchange it.

He is not a green thumb and has virtually left this poor specimen to it's own devices with just occaisional care. How it has survived is beyond me.
Dad has been gone 23 years, and evidently had the plant for around 5 to 8 years prior to that.

Needless to say, it hasn't grown much.

I need to know correct care for these, plus any tips on relocating it to a better mounting branch, the present one is about 6 inches long. I want to put it onto something a bit more presentable.

These were taken at Xmas time, but last night when I picked them up the leaves are a lime green colour, as he had FOR ONCE listened to me and sprayed it regularly during the hot weather we had recently.

[arleneg]

Hi Anton,

In case you haven't come across this, it's a start...more like a hint on how to care for the Dockrilla.

http://www.anos.org.au/information/a...20linguiformis

[kmarch]

Hi Anton,

I dont' know how much help this will be, but here in Melboune I don't "care" for my linguiforme at all. I just have it mounted on a tree fern plaque hanging under a tree fern outside bright indirect light). In summer I soak it once or twice a week, in winter about once every two weeks. That's about it. I never fertilize it.

I bet it might do good under the tent with the Cymbidiums. Do oyu have more than one? If so, try each in a different locale and see which one does best then move them all there.

Cheers,

-K

[Anton]

Thanks Arlene, no haven't seen it, as I only got the Droc last night, been a bit too lazy to look on the net, decided to try here first.

Kevin, that sounds like what my brother has done.

Last night when I got home, I wrapped it in sphag,....... and moistened it, AND .....HUNG ......IT .....UNDER .....THE.......SHADE.

[Anton]

OK Arlene, having read that article, it was the PERFECT plant for my brother.

I have a small paperbark in the front yard, I wonder if I should attach it there ? It will get plenty of sun with a bit of shade as well.

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

[Kevin Western]

Hi Anton,
Rather that damage the existing roots but dismounting the poor old critter, I would fasten the mount to a new one of say cork bark or an old paling and let it run its roots on to the new mount.
A once weekly dip for about 5-10 minutes into some dilute fertiliser would really see it grow well as it seems even now after all that neglect to be in a reasonable state.
Cheers, Kevin W

[Anton]

The leaves have actually changed to a lovely lime green, rather than the purple that these Xmas time images show, since I wrapped it in sphag moss and have kept it damp.

I have it hanging up under my shade over the cyms. I had thought about what you suggested Kevin, then I could separate it later and give my brother a piece. that way we'll both have one each in memory of the old man.

As my brother is retiring soon, he will have time to look after it once I get it re established. ;o)) I HOPE!

BTW how's Drac doing ? Have you crossed it with 'Sucks' yet ????

[Ellen]

I don't have this Dockrillia species (would love to get one!), but the rigida plants I have seem pretty indestructible. Just slap them on a piece of cork or wood or anything and they grow. With all that extra care, it'll probably bloom for you this year.

[Anton]

Hope so Ellen.

Never seen it flower myself.

[Anton]

Here are the latest images of the Dockrilla after being wrapped in cottonwool, er, well sphag, for a few days and being kept moist.

New experience for the poor little thing.

The first image was taken at Xmas, the others, tonight.

[fzzdk]

that looks like two completely different plants! i would say he's probably happy :P

[Anton]

I thought so too.

[arleneg]

Anton,

It sure looks very happy.

By the way, I was at the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show last weekend and saw one up close. It's smaller than I thought. I almost bought one to try it out, but didn't have a place to hang it from. Maybe I'll acquire one next time. By then, I hope to have some hanging space.

[Anton]

Yes, they are deceptively small.

I took the plunge and remounted it last night onto a larger piece of paperbark branch.

It has a myriad of new green roots everywhere, so, I think it is enjoying a bit of TLC, a BIG bit actually.

Actually, I SHOULD have photographed it after peeling it off the original branch. Sorry.

I packed sphag moss onto the branch and held it on with thin wire, onto that I placed the dockrilla and threaded wire through the older roots to hold it onto the shag.

So now, hopefully the new roots have some material to bury into and secure the plant by itself. Once it seems secure, I am going to remove the wire so that it is self supporting.

With a bit of luck, maybe it will flower this season, as I have never seen the flowers in the 30 odd years that it has been in the family.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Anton, it sounds like you have been keeping it continuously wet. Think I would plan on a wet/dry cycle. Certainly, if it has lasted this long being mostly dry, that may be part of the secret to longevity.

[Anton]

Longevity, not flowergevity Cynthia.

Fall is upon us and now that all my cyms have started to go to sleep, they will only get occaisional watering, so I figure that the Dock can go the same way. We are already starting to get heavy dews.

There will be enough moisture in the air from now on to keep the sphag moist and the rain will do the rest. I just wanted to perk it up a bit so that it is on the way before winter sets in,.... if we have one, that is, didn't have a true winter last year.