...and seven years later (Dendrobium spectabile)

[Jeff214]

I hadn't been interested in orchids until I saw a BetterGro bag baby of a Dendrobium spectabile in 2014. I've never seen a flower more bizarre! This was the first orchid I had bought for myself.

While a vigorous grower, I could not get it to bloom. I tried withholding fertilizer and water, cooler temps, direct sun, but it was obstinately recalcitrant! I was able to easily bloom other latouriates, including a primary hybrid with stectabile... but not this one.

I don't think I did anything different this year. The newest growth was, however, much taller than the previous growths. Maybe this strain has a long juvenile period?

Anyway, excited that this thing finally spiked. What I need to get my other (taller) Den spectabile to bloom, I do not know... another 7 years to reach maturity maybe.


Dendrobium spectabile 'Hooslier' x 'Shorty' a few years ago and today. This strain has a short, bushy growth habit.

[Shadeflower]

great spike.
Sure took it's time. I wonder if it was just "the time" for that bigger spike to develop but it clearly gave it much more effort this year.
I'm glad I never took the plunge with this one, with so many varieties if the roots need to be regrown the orchid can idle about for years and I find dendrobiums tend to lose their roots easily. It's good to see you stuck with this one and it pulled through in the end.

[Jeff214]

Thanks - these are in the "wonderfully bizarre" category so it's definitely not for everyone's tastes!

As long as you give Latouriates warmth and lots of water, it seems to do well in chunky media for me. Cool temps + wet will definitely kill the roots and more. I like your Den. normanbyense too. If you were looking to try other latouriates, Den Fire Wings or Den Microchip are great ones to try! I particularly like Den Mini Snowflake as well.

[Fairorchids]

Den. spectabile tends to grow tall. I got some of the ('Hoosier' x 'Shorty') seedlings, and have seen these spike on canes as short as about 10".

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Den. spectabile tends to grow tall. I got some of the ('Hoosier' x 'Shorty') seedlings, and have seen these spike on canes as short as about 10".

Have your 'Hoosier' x 'Shorty' seedlings maintained a shorter cane height or did it eventually grow tall? Mine had been around 4-5" for years and the newest growth was suddenly 10" and spiking.

I have a second Den spectabile (just labeled as a sib cross) at 20" and no signs of spiking...!

[smweaver]

Great-looking spikes. In addition to the intriguing shape of this species' blooms, the flowers are also wonderfully fragrant. I'm sure you'll be pleased with this after so much hard work and patience went into getting your plant to this size and good condition. Congratulations.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i am so pleased and stoked for you-

also i have renewed hope for mine LOL

please update us with more pics along the way!!!

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Have your 'Hoosier' x 'Shorty' seedlings maintained a shorter cane height or did it eventually grow tall? Mine had been around 4-5" for years and the newest growth was suddenly 10" and spiking.

I have a second Den spectabile (just labeled as a sib cross) at 20" and no signs of spiking...!

Originally I bought 10 or 12 of these, but I was selling them as soon as they spiked. I decided to keep one, it has filled a 4" pot nicely, with the tallest canes still only 10-11" tall.
When I checked it yesterday, I saw 5 inflorescences starting.

[Jeff214]

Once the buds oriented themselves spatially, they hadn't done much. A few of the buds fell off but they've started to open up yesterday.

[DirtyCoconuts]

That last pic is the lady parts of the scariest alien I have ever imagined.