Dendrobium hekouense

[Roberta]

For those looking for a mini-Dentrobium (plant size 2 inches/4 cm or less) that is quite undemanding and very cute, consider Den. hekouense. It's not colorful, but the flower-to-plant ratio is excellent. Each flower is about 3/4 inch (2 cm) across. It tends to bloom on leafless growths, (It can look dead, and then it sprouts buds) I don't dry it out, and that doesn't seem to matter at all.

[Waterdog111]

Interesting orchid

[NatalieS]

Soooo cute. I just added this to my collection recently (I can't resist mini dens).

I see yours has a lot of magenta on the bulbs - do you give it bright light? I read these grow on the undersides of branches, so prefer very low light.

[Roberta]

It grows quite shady, but since it is outside, it does still get some moderately bright light for a few hours. T oldest pseudobulbs (the really shriveled ones) are reddish (likely because they have lost their chlorophyll). It really looks dead most of the time, tiny pseudobulbs that are mostly leafless. The flowers seem to come from nowhere.

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by Roberta

It grows quite shady, but since it is outside, it does still get some moderately bright light for a few hours. T oldest pseudobulbs (the really shriveled ones) are reddish (likely because they have lost their chlorophyll). It really looks dead most of the time, tiny pseudobulbs that are mostly leafless. The flowers seem to come from nowhere.

Adorable - I hope I can get mine to flower!

[Roberta]

I just went out and took a closer look at mine...even the newer p-bulbs are rather red. The very few leaves are dark green though. I do suggest growing it somewhat cool - near a window, perhaps. (I have the luxury of living in a frost-free area so it does fine outside... clearly it also tolerates some summer heat because that is what it got, I do keep my mounted plants very well watered and they get through it)

[DeaC]

Originally Posted by NatalieS

Soooo cute. I just added this to my collection recently (I can't resist mini dens).

I see yours has a lot of magenta on the bulbs - do you give it bright light? I read these grow on the undersides of branches, so prefer very low light.

Familiar with Den. delacourii? Also petite. I'm "working" on mine!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by DeaC

Familiar with Den. delacourii? Also petite. I'm "working" on mine!

Yes, another little charmer. That one I grow in the greenhouse. Here's mine, just blooming now. It was labeled "Den venustum" but it's actually delacourii... venustum is a much larger plant with similar flowers.

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I just went out and took a closer look at mine...even the newer p-bulbs are rather red. The very few leaves are dark green though. I do suggest growing it somewhat cool - near a window, perhaps. (I have the luxury of living in a frost-free area so it does fine outside... clearly it also tolerates some summer heat because that is what it got, I do keep my mounted plants very well watered and they get through it)

Other than some of the dens that come from new guinea, dendrobiums seem to be pretty robust in general.

I'm definitely able to provide cool conditions for it atm - I'm hoping it will be able to live mostly out on the partially enclosed and sheltered balcony I have, but I'll be keeping an eye on the temps in that area as it does get very cold in winter here. I suspect I'll be able to use one of those mini gas heaters used for camping to take the chill off the space come mid-winter. As long as it's acclimated, I suspect it will do fine.

---------- Post added at 03:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:54 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DeaC

Familiar with Den. delacourii? Also petite. I'm "working" on mine!

Going on the list!