How lean can Dendrobiam Kingianum be grown?

[RosieC]

I grew a keiki of a primary hybrid of this loose, hanging in some Spanish moss like yours, for 6 months.

It did fine and was growing new roots. It was never my plan to leave it there long term though (I just didn't get around to potting/mounting it when it fell of the parent). I've mounted it on epiweb now which is full of air and it's doing well.

If you do grow it this way be sure to give it a lot of water every day. I poured down the moss soaking it every day.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Thelychiton kingianum (aka Den. kingianum) is very temperature tolerant. They are capable of growing in temperatures of as low as 40 F (4.4 C), and as high as 110 F (43.3 C), with no problems whatsoever!

It is native to certain parts of Australia as Bud had mentioned. It is colloquially known as the Pink Rock Orchid.

Thelychiton kingianum (Den. kingianum) is more likely to be found as a lithophyte or a very low growing epiphyte. I have not found in-situ photos of Thelychiton kingianum (Den. kingianum) growing high up on tree tops as of yet. They naturally grow on granites, generally speaking.

Many people in the hobby grow this species like a true epiphyte (this included me at one point in time, a very long time ago), but I've found them to be far hardier when grown as a lithophytic plant.

Depending on the genetics of the individual or the kind of light the plant receives, this species can get as leggy as yours grows.

As RosieC stated, your alba variant is a species, it's just a "color" variant of the species.

This species does not require a true winter rest period. You can, however, reduce the amount of water you give them drastically during the winters.

I find that they tend to keiki quite readily when stressed. When they are not stressed, don't be surprised if they don't keiki at all. Mine has only thrown out keikis for this year, and it had been placed under considerable stress. Whereas for the previous 4 yrs, it had never once thrown out 1 keiki.

They are bee or wasp pollinated.

[cbuchman]

Thanks Philip. Good to know that Den Kingianum is a lithophyte. When I report (soon), I can use lava rock or similar rock material and reduce the need to remove decayed bark in the future. Right now it is in a 8" clay pot. Would you recommend a basket of some sort?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've always grown my current specimen as a lithophyte in a plastic pot and have not repotted for years.

[Bud]

I have my alba and the pink potted in lava rock, charcoal, medium bark and sponge rock....the compactum and the long stemmed lavender are mounted....all four have been posted in my past threads.
Manhattan is stable now and I returned most of the cold tolerant orchids on the fire escape outdoors to avail of the temperature and bright light. The rest of my orchids are now indoors juxtaposed strategically on the windows in wooden tiers ready for the winter.

[cbuchman]

Bud, Great to hear you are back! We got our power back last night, tho' much of N. NJ is still out.

[Bud]

Carrie, the 14th street Con Edison blew up and we still dont have electricity....we are dependent on my landlord's generator....its cold and muddy but we can traverse the streets to buy rationed food and water....I am thankful for wifi from large businesses in my vicinity....my cold tolerant orchids are back outside the fire escape the rest are ready for winter

[cbuchman]

Originally Posted by Bud

Carrie, the 14th street Con Edison blew up and we still dont have electricity....we are dependent on my landlord's generator....its cold and muddy but we can traverse the streets to buy rationed food and water....I am thankful for wifi from large businesses in my vicinity....my cold tolerant orchids are back outside the fire escape the rest are ready for winter

Bud, is there anything I can do to help? I'm glad you have generator power at least.

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by Gazpacho

I just received a small white flowering version in the mail and I don't have a mount for it yet, so I wrapped a bit of moss around the roots and strapped it to a bracket. I kind of like it like that. Will it survive and flower capriciously if I water it or must it be provided with a wooden mount?

Edit* I have a Maxillaria Juergensii under the window on a tiny little wooden mount. It was that way when I bought it... and it seems to stay alive on a very small mount... All I do is water it with a water mister.

Gaz

Yes, they can be grown outside there. Here's one growing in the burbs of Sydney.


Taken from the Australian Native Plant Society website.

Cheers.
Jim

[cbuchman]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

Yes, they can be grown outside there. Here's one growing in the burbs of Sydney.


Taken from the Australian Native Plant Society website.

I think I have some serious growing to do. This is what I want mine to look like eventually. Mine is purple too. I wonder if I could mount it on a single hunk of ornamental lava rock. At least lava rock would not be too heavy. My mother used to grow ferns on a piece of lava rock that had various depressions to hold the plants. From what I've read, I need a shallow container in general as the roots do not go deep. I wonder if a lava chunk could be used here? Alternatively, I'm thinking a basket with lava rock/charcoal mixture that way, when needed, I can just put the basket into a bigger version of itself and minimize root disturbance.