Den. discolor

[pheli]

It is a large sized plant compared to other dendrobiums. The species likes strong light and need high temperature even in the winter.

[WhiteRabbit]

Awesome!

[No-Pro-mwa]

It's lovely.

[MackayMB]

Dendrobium discolor is native in my area. I have seen absolutely enormous plants including several in my garden with canes approaching 3.5 metres (9-10'). This is a tropical climate with hot wet summers, and cool dry winters. I find D. discolor to be the easiest of all orchids to grow. I have them in rather heavy shade, and in full searing hot sun. They invariably flower at this time of year. The only issue they have in their native range is the dreaded orchid beetle. The yellow variety D. discolor var. Broomfieldii is native to the Whitsunday Islands, which are less than 100km away. It doesn't appear to be as vigorous a grower as the mainland species. This is my favourite native species without a doubt.

[estación seca]

Welcome, MackayMB!

When you say cool dry winters... How cool? Day temperatures? Night temperatures? Is there dew at night?

[AJW]

Cracker

[MackayMB]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Welcome, MackayMB!

When you say cool dry winters... How cool? Day temperatures? Night temperatures? Is there dew at night?

Being a tropical area, using the term 'Cool' is relative and can be easily taken out of context. Daytime temperatures in "winter" vary from the high teens, to the mid 20's Celsius. Night temperatures vary from the mid teens, down to as low as 4-5, with the rare drop below that on the very coldest nights ( that only happens once every 5-10 years). Rainfall during the "winter" is usually nonexistent, or only measuring in the millimetre range.

Summer, or the Wet Season as we call it in North Queensland, is hot, wet and very humid. Rainfall varies greatly along the QLD coast. My area is technically the southern section of the NQ wet tropics. The wet season can bring anything from 1700mm (5 1/2') in an average year, up to and possibly beyond 5000mm (16') in a very wet year. Night temperatures are usually in the mid-high 20's, while daytime temperatures are always in the mid-high 30's. Humidity hovers around the 90-95% range during the summer.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by MackayMB

Being a tropical area, using the term 'Cool' is relative and can be easily taken out of context. Daytime temperatures in "winter" vary from the high teens, to the mid 20's Celsius. Night temperatures vary from the mid teens, down to as low as 4-5, with the rare drop below that on the very coldest nights ( that only happens once every 5-10 years). Rainfall during the "winter" is usually nonexistent, or only measuring in the millimetre range.

Summer, or the Wet Season as we call it in North Queensland, is hot, wet and very humid. Rainfall varies greatly along the QLD coast. My area is technically the southern section of the NQ wet tropics. The wet season can bring anything from 1700mm (5 1/2') in an average year, up to and possibly beyond 5000mm (16') in a very wet year. Night temperatures are usually in the mid-high 20's, while daytime temperatures are always in the mid-high 30's. Humidity hovers around the 90-95% range during the summer.

Thank you! Great information.

[MackayMB]

The D. discolor plants around here are currently pushing out their flower spikes. When they are at their best, I will try to get some good photos. I have always found that the flowers on cultivated plants in other countries look a little different to those that are in their native range. The flowers here tend to be a darker golden brown colour, and the purple on the lip is a little brighter. I also have a very pale form that is either from Papua New Guinea, or from Tanimbar. It is a very attractive flower. It too is pushing out its spikes. Hopefully I can get a good comparison photo. Unfortunately, I don't think my Broomfieldii variety is going to flower this year as it is still settling in from a major change in conditions. It is my goal to eventually collect as many D. discolor varieties as possible.

[MackayMB]

I currently have 3 different forms of D. discolor in flower. The light coloured flower is the Tanimbar variety.



The other 2 are local variations on D. discolor v. discolor.
This is the regular variety. It is growing on an old tree truck in full sun. The last time I looked at it, I counted over 25 spikes.



One is much darker than the other. The photo doesn't do it justice, it is almost entirely a milk chocolate brown. It is a much larger plant. I would estimate the cane to be in the 6-7 foot range.




The Broomfieldii variety has not flower this year due to being a recently repotted keiki. Hopefully next year.