Denddrobium Speciosum

[Orchidbyte]

Got this from local high end nursery 3 years ago, was in a 2 gallon container and it is now in a 17" clay pot, repotted after buying. Grows outdoors here in Los Angeles area full sun winters, morning sun summer. Grows great,

[Paul]

Wow! Nice specimen plant.

[sailortom2]

Very nice looking plant

[Daenerys]

wow, beautiful... how much does a monster of this size cost? And how long does it take for an orchid to grow that size?

[epiphyte78]

Woah! Very nice! That's quite a few spikes. Those look like some pretty stout pseudobulbs so guessing it's not the hillii type. Hopefully when it gets bigger you can attach a division to one of your client's trees. Take a look at this photo of a specimen on a tree in Australia. We should be able to see the same thing in every neighborhood here in Los Angeles!

Daenerys, I've seen them sold bare root at shows for around $40-$100 per pseudobulb...depending on the variety. Anything less than $40 is a pretty good deal.

It seems to take forever to grow this orchid to blooming size...maybe 10 years...but with optimal conditions you could probably shorten it to 7 years. Once it gets to be blooming size though then it will start doubling in size...so perhaps OrchidByte's specimen is around 15 years old.

[camille1585]

Wowow, what a gorgeous plant!!! It's gigantic!!

Are they really that expensive over there??? I remember seeing one (and wanting to buy!) at a local grower with at least 5-6 bulbs, for only 20€ ($26)

[epiphyte78]

Camille, I've seen near blooming size specioums for around $35 here...but you can find blooming size delicatums for around $25 here. Of course...there are always exceptional deals to be found if one is patient/lucky enough.

[Orchidbyte]

This plant in a 2 gallon pot with 5 spikes at time was retail 350.00 U.S., since I do business with them and know the owner I got it for 175.00, never paid that much for an orchid, but I knew the plant would grow outdoors and grow well under my care.

This plant has doubled in size in three years, now has 22 spikes, i am going to move it up to a 26" pot this year, no dividing i want a monster. This plant already weighs more then 60lbs. With pot.

I have another i got from Epiphyte a few years ago it was a back bulb division and it has grown very well but no flowers yet. The division I got looks similar but the big one has leaves like a succulent, thick very round, where as the division has leaves pointed and a lot thinner and smaller.

[smweaver]

Very cool plant and blooms. I find the fragrance a little overpowering, but for sheer flower power, a large plant of this species is a real showstopper. Congratulations on your blooms. They're really beautiful. Do you know the variety of speciosum, or the name of your cross?

Steve

[WhiteRabbit]

Oh wow! That's fabulous!