Dendrobium xsuffusum

[estación seca]

Dendrobium xsuffusum is a natural hybrid between Den. kingianum and Den. gracilicaule. The flowers are 5/8"/1.6cm across.



Both are Australian species in section Dendrocoryne, which includes Den. speciosum. It is supposed to combine the best features of both species: pink color and strong fragrance from kingianum, and floriferousness from gracilicaule.

This plant came from Andy's Orchids the first week of December 2020. It is 20"/51cm tall. The Den. jonesii in front of it is in a 3.25"/8.25cm pot.



I saw the most recent growths were mature, and it had flowered before. This kind of Den. is encouraged to flower by bright and very cool winters. I put it outside on my patio. It got several hours of direct winter sun, and I watered it weekly. We had no frost this year; it threatened for a few nights, and I brought the Australian Dens into the house for a week.

My plant has tall, gangly growth with small, dull-colored flowers from gracilicaule, and not much from kingianum other than a faint whiff of fragrance. I'll see whether I can keep alive and flower it again, hoping it will improve. I am very underwehelmed.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i would not write her off yet...if you received it in 12/2020 then it was shipped during the development of the spikes and the plant may have temporarily diverted the flowering energy to survival.....just a theory but i have seen a LOT of my recent flowering purchases seem, well, underwhelming

[neophyte]

I think flower color development can be influenced to some extent by temperature, at least in some cases...?

I personally very much enjoy the overall shape of sect. Dendrocoryne flowers, though I can understand why you might be disappointed about the color. Still a very nice display, in my opinion!

[Tango]

Well it may be disappointing in horticultural terms, but you have the joy of caring for a wild flower...