Dendrobium Purple Cluster 'Dark Purple' x Den. Toscana Starburst 'Red Wine'

[mook1178]

I came across this thread while on a google search for this cross. I purchased this cross a few months ago from SVO. The plant is now in bloom. However the blooms to not seem to open as wide as I'd expect.

Is that something in my culture? Could it be that the plant needs to mature more? Any insight?

[neophyte]

Flower shape may improve over the years as the plant matures, but I expect this is simply because not all siblings of a cross will look the same. Some will have wider blooms and some more narrow; some will have more spots and some may have less. It's the same in humans, too. This is also why certain cultivars of a cross are given names (eg. Dendrobium Purple Cluster 'Dark Purple') – it's because by luck they happened to be one of the "best" outcomes of the crosses.

Most orchid breeders don't expect a high percentage of the products of a cross to be outstanding – they look for a select few to get awarded. Fred Clarke does that; when people send him pictures of their first blooms of his crosses, he decides which ones he likes and registers those ones. In a sense he's almost letting other people raise some of his crosses and then deciding which ones are good.

Here's a link to a thread started by Fairorchids showing two siblings of the same cross (they're the orange ones). One bloomed later than the other, and they're very different.

[mook1178]

Neophyte-thank you for your response.

I understand the difference in siblings from the same cross. I may not have worded the question clearly.

My blooms seem to be not opening all the way. The sepals and petals are still pointing forward after about a week of being open. When I get to my computer I can post a pic.

[mook1178]

My flowers actually look very similar, just not as wide open. Is this do to my culture of the plant?

[neophyte]

Hehe, I am not exactly sure. There are two petals that look like they are still folded, but I can't exactly tell which way they are pointing. It's probably best to reserve judgement until more of the blooms open; the first one may have just been not too great.

edit: maybe it's just the angle, but the other flower seems to look pretty normal. could you post a pic of that one?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I am curious about one of the parent names. The tag says Toscana but I can only find Tosca. Maybe Fred mistyped?

Yup, I think typo. Fred registered Den Tosca Starburst in 2016, Orchidwiz has no "Toscana"

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by mook1178

I came across this thread while on a google search for this cross. I purchased this cross a few months ago from SVO. The plant is now in bloom. However the blooms to not seem to open as wide as I'd expect.

Is that something in my culture? Could it be that the plant needs to mature more? Any insight?

Tough to say! Is this a first bloom?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by mook1178

My flowers actually look very similar, just not as wide open. Is this do to my culture of the plant?

Also, what time of day did you take the photo? My experience with these Aussie Dens (and other Dens as well) is that they tend to partly close up late in the day, to open more in the morning, and do that until the flowers are fully mature. (Frustrating, because I am not a "morning person" and have them not at their best by the time I am ready to take my photos) See what happens if they get really good morning sun.

[mook1178]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Tough to say! Is this a first bloom?

It is a first bloom for me. I am not sure if it is for the plant. This came in a 4" pot, so I think the plant may have bloomed before it was sold.

---------- Post added at 03:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:36 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

Also, what time of day did you take the photo? My experience with these Aussie Dens (and other Dens as well) is that they tend to partly close up late in the day, to open more in the morning, and do that until the flowers are fully mature. (Frustrating, because I am not a "morning person" and have them not at their best by the time I am ready to take my photos) See what happens if they get really good morning sun.

Photos are evening time. I will move to a morning sun window. Right now it has been getting mid afternoon-early evening sun.

[DirtyCoconuts]

That is mighty fine!