Really really cool! Thanks for sharing! It looks like a Dendrobium nobile type.
The other day I tried to see if anybody grows any epiphytic orchids outdoors year around in Houston but I didn't find anything really conclusive.
Do you think somebody waters it? I looked it up and Austin receives an average of 32 inches of rain per year. According to the
Baker culture sheet...Dendrobium nobile receives an average of 49 inches of rain per year in one location in its distribution.
I don't know if D. nobile could thrive on only 32 inches of rain on average. Plus, the distribution of rain is quite different. In its native habitat...most of the rain falls during the summer monsoon...with far less rain the rest of the year...unlike Austin.
The question is...just how exceptional is this individual? It might be the case that D. nobiles are more cold/drought tolerant than most people realize. Or it might be the case that this is one exceptionally cold/drought tolerant individual. You can leave a few D. nobiles outside next year (mounted without any moss) and see how they do.
But just in case this individual IS truly exceptional...I recommend asking whoever for permission to divide it and redistribute it. The most valuable lesson is to not keep all your epiphytes in one tree (all your eggs in one basket). Not all locations are equally beneficial for an orchid...so the more you hedge your bets...the greater your chances of success. Plus, ideally, if each division survives...then you can have several trees filled with flowering orchids rather than just one. More trees with orchids is always better than fewer trees with orchids!
It looks large enough to get at least three decent divisions. Nobiles are petty easy to grow from single canes even. You could remount one division in the same exact spot...mount another in a different likely suitable spot in the area (just higher up out of reach) and then you can take one home. This will increase the orchid's chance of success.
It will help sweeten the deal if you brought around 3 different nobile types and offered to mount them in that area. This will help whoever know that you're there to help contribute rather than simply mooch. If you're interested I can send you two different ones.
Let me know if you need advice on mounting techniques.
It's a bit early in the year though for mounting. Spring time is usually the best time. Dendrobium nobiles are usually pretty forgiving though.
The danger of mounting too early/late is that the string or fishing line will lose tension over time...so by the time new roots start emerging...the orchid will have too much wiggle room for the roots to adhere to the tree. Then you'd have to reattach it.
Thanks again for sharing!! It's really great to learn that at least one orchid can survive outdoors for at least two years in Austin!
Urban Dendrobium.
Linear Mode
