Need suggestions about Australian Orchids

[Suresh Kalyanpur]

My son living in Australia is planning a short holiday to Bangalore. He asked me if I would like something and I immediately though of Australian orchids - possibly a dendrobium and a cymbidium.

Could you suggest two typical hardy orchids from 'down under'. The temperatures in Bangalore vary between 14and 36 degrees with showers during the monsoons and the winter months of Nov/Feb.

My plants are kept on an open balcony where they get plenty of light but not too much of direct sunlight.

Need names of some good nurseries in and around Perth from where I could order these plants.

Thanks in advance.

Suresh Kalyanpur

[epiphyte78]

Here are the tropical and sub-tropical orchids mentioned in the book..."Cultivation of Australian Native Orchids" produced by the Australasian Native Orchid Society Victorian Group Inc.

Cymbidium canaliculatum
Dendrobium bigibbum
Dendrobium canaliculatum
Dendrobium discolor
Dendrobium johannis
Dendrobium rigidum
Dendrobium x superbiens

[Andrew]

Ezi-gro Orchids in Darch, WA sell Cym's and Australian natives. For something different they also do some breeding for sepal pelorics.

The main problem you'll face is that Australian Cym breeding, especially in southern Australia, focuses on cool growing hybrids that you'll probably find difficult to flower. Similarly, most of the native breeding you'll find in southern Australia will be cool growing hybrids. It's a pity that you need to restrict your focus to Perth nurseries. Cedarvale Orchids in Qld and DUNO in NSW do lot of Phal type and hot/cold Australian Dendrobium breeding, which would suit your climate better. Woolf Orchid Culture in Qld and Western Orchids in SA also sell Australian Cymbidiums which are also more suited to your temps. Of course, WA's quarantine restrictions mean that interstate nurseries either won't ship to WA or they'll charge you a bundle to do it. Western & Woolf sell flasks so this may be a better option.

[Suresh Kalyanpur]

Hi Andrew - Thank you for your response and all the information. Actually I got in touch with Ezi Gro Orchids in Darch - they have a wonderful collection of Cymbidiums. Someone by the name of Kevin from Ezi Gro spoke to me and suggested four cyms which he felt would be suitable for our warmer climates (Autumn Wonder 'Early Snow', Emmas Love 'Cherry Chip', Cherry Cola 'Geyserland' and Mem Giam-Tuyen 'Honey') I nearly ordered all four of them costing Au$25 each for flowering size plants - but then realised that documentation would take up to two months and would cost me about Au$175 - which seems quite ridiculous considering that the orchids would cost me Au$100 only.
I have a couple of questions. If you could throw some light on these doubts it would be of help.
1. Is the time/cost of documentation equally high on your side of the coast?
2. Is buying flasks any easier and less cumbersome in terms of documentation and time?
Thanks in advance,

Suresh Kalyanpur

[Andrew]

Suresh,
$175 is not unusual compared to what other nurseries charge. Phytosanitary certification is not cheap, whichever side of Australia you're buying from. Within that $175 is the actual cost of the certificate, the cost of the inspection, the travel costs incurred by the inspector (for an onsite inspection) or the vendor (for inspection at the customs office), any costs for fumigation and additional labour costs that the vendor charges.

Check with your local quarantine office as to what type of documentation is necessary for flasks. Some countries demand phytosanitary certificates for flasks, others don't. The down side about ordering flasks is that they can get jumbled around in the post. If the plant is ready to deflask this might not be an issue but I wouldn't consider buying protocorm flask, for example.

[Baz in Oz]

Suresh, a few more typically Oz orchids to consider are -
Den. Kingiatum
Den. Speciosum
Cym. Madidum
They are all as tough "as nannygoat knees" and should be readily available.

Baz

[Suresh Kalyanpur]

Thanks Andrew for all the information. I appreciate the trouble you have taken. Yes I will find out from our quarantine dept what documents are required before I do anything. Incidentally what is a protocorm flask pardon my ignorance.

Thanks Baz for the information on the dendrobiums you suggest I look at.

Suresh Kalyanpur