Dendrobium spectabile - Orchid Board

Dandrobium · #1 01-24-2018, 12:16 PM

Here's a first blooming of my spectabile that I bought 2 years ago. I put it in semi hydro and it just took off. This is a very thirsty plant though, and will drink the reservoir dry within a couple days. It sits next to a south-east window with some cattleyas and gets decent air movement. RH is about 50-60%. Fragrance is wonderful, especially in the morning!

Paul · #2 01-24-2018, 12:41 PM

A love 'em or hate 'em orchid.
I find the flowers fascinating though I would not apply the word "beautiful". I have noticed at shows that people typically have one of two reactions -- if they are like me, they find the flowers intriguing,
whereas others find them grotesque. This is one of those orchids I really wish was a mini or micro mini so I could have one. Considering the ones I see in show displays are generally over 4ft tall, I have to pass.

estación seca · #3 01-24-2018, 01:46 PM

H&R says they are breeding them down in size, and they have ones that flower at 18".

No-Pro-mwa · #4 01-24-2018, 01:48 PM

I think there very cool looking. Yours looks wonderful. But I have to say I had no idea they got that tall, wow.

SaraJean · #5 01-26-2018, 12:43 AM

Very cool!

Dollythehun · #6 01-26-2018, 07:57 AM

I'm imptessed yours bloomed so soon! Mine has lived here two winters, it has bud nubs but has to sit on the floor, which is drafty. Who knows when it will bloom, and meanwhile its getting bigger and bigger. Not much more patience on my part. Plus, like Paul said, I'm not sure how I feel about the flowers.

zelda · #7 01-26-2018, 01:02 PM

They can flower smaller, but they do get big. Recently I've been seeing bushy ones at around 2.5 ft. Mine is 4 ft and I have to tie it up, otherwise there is no space.

Good job growing yours! I love this plant.

Dandrobium · #8 01-26-2018, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the comments. It is definitely a unique flower, not to everyone's tastes. This is what appeals to me about this flower... how different it is.

Its not a big plant... yet! From base to upper leaves its just over a foot tall. I've kept it in quite bright conditions though, so that likely helped it along. It probably has the best growth of all plants I've moved to semi hydro. I have the 'Buenaventura' clone in a bark mix and it is much slower growing for me. Nowhere near this size even though I got them both around the same time.