Possibility of Growing Australian dendrobiums in the tropic lowland

[Psyched]

Hey all,

I am captivated with Australian dendrobiums like tetragonum and speciosum. I hoping to add those in my collection in a month or so.

However, I am growing all my chids in lowland tropics where the humidity is high all year long and the temperature rarely drop below 30 degrees centigrade and never higher than 34 degrees.

I may not be an expert on Australian climate but I think the temperature there can be more extreme than the tropics, get as hot as 37 degrees and very dry on summer/winter. Is it the same condition with those two species habitat?

I have taken care orchid also found in Australia like Den canaliculatum. I only realize that they don't like being in direct contact with rain water (rainy season last about 6 months here) when they shriveled and died on me.

I hope orchid experts living in down under can help me with this. I need to know whether it is appropriate to grow them where I live before purchasing it. Otherwise, it's going to break my heart (and my piggy bank's) to see it rot or die.

[Undergrounder]

The key in your conditions i think would be to ensure they have PLENTY of drainage and air. In fact i would consider just tying them to trees/rocks and let the root systems crawl out over the rocks and establish themselves naturally. This would work well in a humid environment. If you must use pots, pot them in straight rocks, styrene or something else super coarse that holds little to no water.

Getting them to flower might be the hard part though... they need a drop in temps and little but of a drier period to initiate spikes.

[Baz in Oz]

I agree Undergrounder. The lack of cooler winter temp could upset things.
Canaliculatum, tetragonum and speciosum grow naturally where winter nights get down to single figures C.
I have seen tetragonum growing naturally in the dry tropics near the sea a little north of Townsville and recently saw a couple growing high on a tree in rainforest near Innisfail in the wet tropics.
Canaliculatum has a natural affinity for Melaleuca bark.

Baz

[Psyched]

Thanks guys for the advice.

I learned that Den canaliculatum (at least the one from Papua) likes their roots to be completely dry between watering. Hence, they are mounted straight to bark with no moss or coconut husk or whatsoever to retain water, unlike other dens.

Under the situation of heavy and continuous downpour which is very common during rainy season in here, they are very prone to rot. I might have to put them under canopy where they will be covered from continuous shower.

I will take your advise on potting medium for Den speciosum but if grown from seedlings, they sure take a very long time for maturity. May rival those of Gram speciosum.

But I read that Den tetragonum likes a more moist and shaded condition. They can be grown hung on basket with sphag, while Den speciosum can be found living straight on rocks.

It's true that growing them in my area will likely never bloom. But at least if they can be grown happily, making it bloom is only the matter of time and techniques.