Dendrobium aurantiflammeum, auriculatum from Hausermann

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We recently mentioned Dendrobium aurantiflammeum in this thread:
Dendrobium aurantiiflammeum
Note it is spelled with only one "I", though I have seen it offered for sale spelled with two "I"s.

It is related to the "pigeon" or "thunderstorm" orchid, Dendrobium crumenatum, in Dendrobium section Crumenata.

I received some Dens recently from Hausermann's. Shown are Den. aurantiflammeum and Den. auriculatum (section Dolichocentrum.) They are in 2" / 5cm diameter, but taller, pots. The wire fence in the photos has 4" openings.



Dendrobium aurantiflammeum from Hausermann's, above.



Dendrobium auriculatum from Hausermann's, above.

The Den. aurantiflammeum had spider mites soon after arrival. I don't know whether it arrived with them or not. I have been spraying all my Dens with dish soap solution daily since.

[Leafmite]

Both look really great!
Dendrobium auriculatum is one of my favorites. It is prone to spidermites so just keep an eye on it (I know it isn't the one you discovered with the mites but....). I haven't had any trouble thus far with pests coming from Hausermann's but I know problems can affect just about any vendor from time to time. If you think the mites came from them, let them know so they can check and possibly treat their orchids.

I stopped buying from one of my formerly favorite vendors because I found a bush snail on one of the mounts when I took the orchid from the box. Thought I had gotten them all but then had an infestation and lost some of my prized, impossible-to-replace miniature orchids (they ate them in their entirety), then had to baby some of my non-orchids as they recovered (coffee and coffee grounds got rid of all the bush snails). Some of the members of my orchid society had issues with pests from them and one of the orchids they were offering on Amazon had scale on the leaves in the pictures...they had always sold me perfect, clean plants until then. It is too bad.

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I found a different kind of snail, new to me, on plants today. It is larger than a bush snail, and has an olive-pit shaped body. I also had another rat eat some leaves. A week or so ago I treated a lot of new arrival plants with coffee to kill potential snails. I'm going to treat the rest of my collection.

[Fredmax]

Coffee kills snails, I heard of beer working, what next?

I enjoy growing orchids but gave up on actually getting flowers, everytime one appears the following morning it has a few pieces removed until it's down to the stem I throw pellets in gay abandon but don't think they're doing much.

[Leafmite]

Do you know what is eating the flowers?

ES, If you haven't tried growing Rue (Ruta graveolens) and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) among your other plants to discourage the pack rats, it might be a fun experiment. I would love to learn if these would discourage pack rats. I had trouble with something eating my potted plants down to the roots (deer? Groundhog? Skunk?), including my Vanilla and some other orchids. Once I added pots of rue and wormwood, I did not have any further problems. Even better, most insects avoid wormwood...not sure about Rue.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i love the crumenatum i have so i bet you will enjoy this and the auriculatum is a favorite- the flowers are great but i LOVE the way the leaves wrap around the stem- i have not seen that in any other plant and it is phenomenal!

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I have an allergic skin reaction to rue, like the reaction people get to poison ivy. I doubt packrats would be deterred by unpleasant smells. They have eaten Aloes in my garden other animals here won't touch. They have eaten extremely toxic Albuca plants and bulbs, which almost certainly killed them.

[Bayard]

I am jealous of your Den. aurantiflammeum. Saw it on Hausermann’s website, but I waited too late! Was able to get a skimpy little plant on eBay, though.