Dendrobium smillieae

[Roberta]

Here's one that I don't see very often, I think it's really beautiful. I love the contrast of the very pale pink flowers, the black lips, and the dark pink pedicels. Note that it blooms on the old, leafless canes.

It's a warm grower - native to New Guinea and northern Ausrtralia - so it has to live in my greenhouse but otherwise doesn't seem to have any particularly special needs. Not a small plant - It took me three years to get it big enough to bloom, canes are 22-24 inches (56-60 cm) but the footprint isn't much larger then when it got it so it really doesn't take up that much bench space. It should grow easily outside for those of you in tropical regions.

[WaterWitchin]

Wow, that's beautiful Roberta! I love the color combo... reminds me of a little girl all dressed up for Easter, wearing patent leather shoes. Fancy!

[Fredmax]

Love the bottlebrush orchid, I'm thinking of getting one but am waiting to see the minimum it can deal with. Very unique striking flowers.

[DirtyCoconuts]

oh my!! this is a MUST HAVE

well done Roberta!

[Roberta]

DC, Thanks. Yes, you definitely need this one. It should grow fabulously for you.

[SpclK]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Not a small plant - It took me three years to get it big enough to bloom, canes are 22-24 inches (56-60 cm) but the footprint isn't much larger then when it got it so it really doesn't take up that much bench space.

I have Den. Lee Chang Yi Miriam, a primary cross of Den. secundum and smillieae. It should look like this when it blooms. Right now the tallest pseudobulb measures 7.5 in.; are you saying it'd have to be triple the length before it blooms? Oh boy! Do you grow your Den. smillieae in a pot or mount it? If you mount it, do you mount it upright or upside down?

[Roberta]

Well, I don't know if the hybrid has to be so big... the Den secundum parent very likely brings the size down. I grow Den smillieae in a pot - a terracotta pot actually, to give some weight so that it isn't so top-heavy.