Dendrobium Dawn Maree Splash (No Splash Now)

[gjanick2]

On 8 December 2022, I created a thread entitled Dendrobium Dawn Maree Splash. I am somewhat saddened today as this plant is no longer producing blooms that are splash/peloric. Why? The previous 'splash' blooms were so beautiful. Can anyone tell me why this is happening? I can guess that the answers will be speculative and only guesswork, but I still would like to hear your comments and suggestions.

I have included pictures again of before with 'splash" (8 December 2022) and today 'no splash (24 March 2023). Thank You!

[Ray]

Are you sure you don’t have two, different Dawn Maries?

The conformation of the blossoms is entirely different, and while some pigmentation is affected by cultural parameters, genetics defines the conformation, and that isn’t changeable.

[gjanick2]

Originally Posted by Ray

Are you sure you don’t have two, different Dawn Maries?

The conformation of the blossoms is entirely different, and while some pigmentation is affected by cultural parameters, genetics defines the conformation, and that isn’t changeable.

Thanks Ray. I never thought of the two different plant possibility. The disappeared 'splash' flowers might have been produced on different now inactive (non-blooming) canes. I will look closely at the plant(s) tomorrow.

[dbarron]

I suspect Ray is right, because mine which flowered this winter lasted about 6 weeks. I'd think it would be a different plant flowering later.

[Roberta]

Sometimes you get what looks like one plant, but is really two that are entangled. When seedlings are removed from compot, of course the grower wants to pot them and sell them separately. But sometimes 2 plants are tangled so they look like one when they are tiny. Then you get a bonus... I have a Sobralia like that, I get pink flowers on one side of the plant and yellow flowers on the other side. Obviously more than one plant (one parent of the cross is pink and the other is yellow, one plant favors mom and the other looks like dad), but inseparable in a tangle of spikes and roots.

[gjanick2]

Thanks Roberta. The plant(s) is quite large, and just as you described, at the base of the plant are many canes and roots intertangled with new growth coming up. It appears to me that there may be even 3 different plants intertangled. There is one beautiful bloom ready to open on one of the other canes. I should know in a couple of days if this bloom has the splash. Thanks for your help.

[gjanick2]

Originally Posted by Ray

Are you sure you don’t have two, different Dawn Maries?

The conformation of the blossoms is entirely different, and while some pigmentation is affected by cultural parameters, genetics defines the conformation, and that isn’t changeable.

Ray. I have attached another picture of the 3rd flower. There are three blooms on this exact same cane. Two have no sign of the 'splash', but the 3rd flower clearly shows the 'splash' diminishing or fading.

I am also waiting for a 4th flower on a different cane (maybe a different plant) to fully open to take a picture to see what this one will look like.

I sure appreciate any ideas or comments. I guess that I should just accept the way the plant(s) are growing and be happy with that, but I am curious too.

[Grim Tuesday]

Could this be a chimeric plant?