Dendrobium xsuffusum
 

Dendrobium xsuffusum is a natural hybrid between Den. kingianum and Den. gracilicaule. The flowers are 5/8"/1.6cm across.

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Both are Australian species in section Dendrocoryne, which includes Den. speciosum. It is supposed to combine the best features of both species: pink color and strong fragrance from kingianum, and floriferousness from gracilicaule.

This plant came from Andy's Orchids the first week of December 2020. It is 20"/51cm tall. The Den. jonesii in front of it is in a 3.25"/8.25cm pot.

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I saw the most recent growths were mature, and it had flowered before. This kind of Den. is encouraged to flower by bright and very cool winters. I put it outside on my patio. It got several hours of direct winter sun, and I watered it weekly. We had no frost this year; it threatened for a few nights, and I brought the Australian Dens into the house for a week.

My plant has tall, gangly growth with small, dull-colored flowers from gracilicaule, and not much from kingianum other than a faint whiff of fragrance. I'll see whether I can keep alive and flower it again, hoping it will improve. I am very underwehelmed.

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i would not write her off yet...if you received it in 12/2020 then it was shipped during the development of the spikes and the plant may have temporarily diverted the flowering energy to survival.....just a theory but i have seen a LOT of my recent flowering purchases seem, well, underwhelming

I think flower color development can be influenced to some extent by temperature, at least in some cases...?

I personally very much enjoy the overall shape of sect. Dendrocoryne flowers, though I can understand why you might be disappointed about the color. Still a very nice display, in my opinion! :)

Well it may be disappointing in horticultural terms, but you have the joy of caring for a wild flower...

Picked up a pot with the same label. First time to bloom this spring. Only 2 flowers but they look totally different. Could my pot have been mislabeled?

Well, it does look midway between kingianum and gracilicaule. By the way, my plant was eaten by pack rats.

I don't wish to take hope from your post ES but it really does make me feel better. I have a Nobile type (Dend. Sweet Dawn) with what sounds like a similar back story. I am underwhelmed by everything about it. I've only owned it for around 18 months so I'll give it a few more years before I put any effort into rehoming it.

OK. Thanks.

Sorry to hear about the demise of your plant.