Dendrobium jonesii / fusiforme / ruppianum

[estación seca]

Dendrobium jonesii (AKA fusiforme, ruppianum) is in section Dendrocoryne, and is a close relative of Den. speciosum. In fact, at one time it was named as a speciosum variety. I just got one of these from Andy's. It's clear from the red pseudobulbs he's growing them in very high light.



I've read here on Orchid Board it doesn't like going below 8C / 46F in winter, nor above 30C / 86 F in the summer.

Is anybody in California growing it outside during the winter? I'm considering putting it on my patio outdoors, leaving it out unless frost threatens, and protecting it from rain if we get any this winter. It would get more winter light that way.

Edit: Spoke with Andy... he grows it outside all year under 30% shade cloth. They get winter rain, too. They've already been down to 38 F / 3.3C this year, and that will probably happen again. He said I could leave it out all winter, bringing it in on nights with frost. ln spring he said to bring it into the house when days are routinely over 100 F / 38C.

Anybody else in California growing it outside?

[Roberta]

Close... I have Den Ruppiosum (or probably correctly Den. x ruppiosum), a natural hybrid between Den. jonesii and speciosum, and I grow it outside. No reason to believe that it is fragile. In Orchidwiz, Den. ruppianum (jonesii) has a low temperature of 33 deg F in the Baker culture sheet (high of 100 deg F). I don't think it is fragile. If it grows at Andy's outside (which I expect it does) it can experience temperatures into the mid-30's F ... that's just what the environment does. If dry especially, I wouldn't worry about cold close to frost, nor would I worry much about heat either, if protected from direct sun in summer. It looks to me like it grows pretty much like a Den. speciosum. Not delcate.

[estación seca]

Thanks. Oz growers who posted before in response to smweaver suggested the more restricted temperature range. But knowing Andy grows it outside makes me more comfortable.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Thanks. Oz growers who posted before in response to smweaver suggested the more restricted temperature range. But knowing Andy grows it outside makes me more comfortable.

While I haven't been to Andy's in awhile (since lockdown), I know where he grows the Aussie Dens... the most exposed part of the open shadehouse. That area does get some shade during part of the day (big trees), a bit less light maybe than the L. anceps but not much. Being coastal, summer is fairly temperate, but there are still days that are pretty toasty. Likewise, winter generally pretty temperate, but on occasion can get cold.