Dendrobium speciosum question

[rcb]

Hi all,

I bought a D. speciosum v. pendunculatum seedling about a year or two ago. The winter care Ive given it is to leave it outside during the winter, with almost no water at all in very bright light.

Well, looking at it yesterday, I noticed it apparently has decided to spike.

Also, we've had an unusually warm December, and are just now settling into a series of cool cool nights.

So my questions are, should I begin watering this plant, or should I wait a little longer? And since it is spiking, but we are just beginning cooler nights, should I leave it outside, or should I bring it in to warmer temps? Will the cool temps we are about to get inhibit or stop the spike development?

Any advice would be great, I'm so so excited about the possibility of seeing these flowers.

[Brooke]

Renee I don't give mine a winter rest nor do I give it anything cooler than 60. When you read the culture notes mine shouldn't bloom because it doesn't get any cold temps and my summer temps are much higher than recommended. The chart on OW shows rain through the winter, just not as much as the summer.

I have no idea about the lower temps and spike development but if mine, I would probably bring it in if the temps go too low.

Maybe some of our Aussie brothers will speak up and clarify if the temps are damaged by low temps. I'm pretty sure Ron grows this species in his yard.

Brooke

[rcb]

Brooke thanks. I really want to see these flowers. I don't remember ever seeing any of the speciosums in person.

Interesting about the OW chart. In the Baker and Baker book, it actually lists natural rainfall as 0.1 inches in Dec, 0.2 inches in Jan and Feb and just a trace in March. And comments that there is almost no dew during these months either.

*The months are adjusted for Northern Hemispere.

[Epipactis12]

I live in Santa Barbara, where the temperatures every night are in the low 40s or mid to high 30s. My D. speciosum also has spikes, and they grown hundreds of these outside at the SB Orchid Estate. For a really fun image, take a look at the truck on this page in upper left (in SB, grown outdoors).

Specimen Orchids

[Fishmom]

That is just amazing. I had no idea that this variety of plants was grown outside at SBOE. I'm wondering if you ever get frost in Santa Barbara? Maybe I'm being too cautious about bringing some of my plants in, or I could get some others that would be able to thrive outdoors in the Bay Area. Presently I have cymbidiums and a Den. kingianum outdoors but under the eaves on my front porch. I cover them when it is supposed to frost though; would they actually not need that care?

[rcb]

Thanks epipactis. And that pic is something I can only dream about lol

So basically between what you show and what Brooke does means this plant is probably amazingly tolerant, and I really can't take any credit at all for the spike.

Fishmom, I do know there are a lot of orchids that do manage to thrive with at least 3 months of nights that regularly drop to the 30s and 40s. I know this because I grow them that way.

And if rains and they have to spend nights in the 30s and 40s wet, then that is what they do.

My Gongoras, majority of my Den species, majority of my Catt alliance, a couple Vandas, my Maxillaria, majority of my Coelogynes, a good percentage of my Hoyas, and probably some others I'm not thinking of right now. And most of them bloom on time. Some haven't, and I'm trying to figure out why, but I don't necessarily relate that to too cold temps as of yet.

Basically if a plant is listed as an intermediate or cool grower, I leave it outside in the winter. If it is listed as a warm grower, it comes in and spends the winter under lights.

[Epipactis12]

Yes, we get frost sometimes, down to about 28. Every few years. The folks at SBOE say that their outdoor orchids stay outdoors, even then!

[Fishmom]

Hmmm. I need to do some rethinking....

[Smokerfamily]

I would say if it is spiking outside then leave it outside. I find more flowers blast when moving them some where different than just leaving them alone, even if the temps are dropping. If you want to move it then can you put it where your kingianum is. I think you said it was outside under some cover. But I wouldnt move it inside if it were me. I probably wouldnt start watering it either. Unless the bulbs are severely shrivelled then they will have enough inside them to keep the spike going. If you do water only do it in the morning on the warmest of days.

Whats interesting is that I have a Den speciosum spiking at the moment as well. But Im on the other side of the world in the middle of summer and our season has finished. The same plant flowered only two months ago. Just a slow one I geuss.

[Brooke]

What a huge discrepancy between the OW Bakers and the Baker sheets. I'm glad I didn't kill mine by overwatering. Here it is last year - first time bloom for me. That is an 8" pot and it had to be bungee'd to the bench to keep it upright. I moved it to a 14" pot so hopefully it can live there for a few years before it has to be disturbed again.


Den speciosum LUR_5663 by kentucky4, on Flickr

Did I mention it has a wonderful fragrance?

Brooke

[Epipactis12]

I know about the Baker sheets, what are the OW Baker Sheets? Thanks!

[rcb]

smokerfamily, yes it is in the same spot as the kingianum. Under the overhang from my roof. So it does get dew, and if we get a bad storm with a lot of wind it will get rain, but if a normal rain it stays dry. And the kingianum is in spike now too.

The p'bulbs look fine. Very slight shriveling, but nothing that looks bad.

epipactis - ow is orchidwiz. And OW uses the Baker's info for their culture advice on the program. So that is why it is odd that the Baker and Baker Dendrobium book would have different advice that the Baker culture info on OW.

And Brooke, I did double check to make sure I didn't make a mistake. Anyways, your plant I think just reiterates what a worthwhile species this one is.

One more question for you all. Is this a "I'm going to take forever to develop spike", or a quick one? My spike is about 3 inches long now.

[Brooke]

I don't remember Renee - first time bloomer, too many orchids and an old memory cell, I can't retrieve the info

Be sure an check the blooms toward the end of the day because they close up.

Brooke