Drockrillia cucumerinum flowering - Orchid Board

Pattywack · #1 05-03-2018, 05:16 PM

I have had this Drockrillia cucumerinum since February 2015 and this is the first flowering I’ve had with it. Originally from Al’s Orchids, it is mounted on tree fern and has been growing in my 12x12x18 Exo Terra for almost 2 years. It is mounted to the back of the tank at the top, sandwiched in between a Drockrillia torresae and a Drockrillia lichenastrum. The light is a 26 watt cfl full spectrum daylight Exo Terra. I water daily, tank stays humid, around 75% with day time tems near 80.

I understand cucumerinum is difficult to flower and I actually was surprised to see the buds．

The plant has been growing like crazy recently and reaching out halfway across the terrarium. Maybe I should take some cuttings before it takes over the tank!

The flowers are large and beautiful. The thin red stripe is accompanied by a frilly, speckled lip that curls upward. I’ve not personally seen a cucumerinum flower. Here are a few pictures. Hopefully you will be able to see how it has grown outward from the mount.

DeaC · #2 05-04-2018, 11:10 AM

So nice. Have tried these with no luck and your tank method seems the key to success. Your entire setup is fantastic!

camille1585 · #3 05-04-2018, 04:33 PM

That's a cutie! It was a project plant some years ago, and people had a lot of fun with this one.

Leafmite · #4 05-04-2018, 04:44 PM

What nice blooms! I am definitely impressed that you have this one in bloom. I had one of these during the project but it never bloomed so I finally lost interest (sadly) and gave it away. I do have a few variations of Drockrillia lichenastrum/prenticei which do bloom well for me.

Pattywack · #5 05-05-2018, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeaC

So nice. Have tried these with no luck and your tank method seems the key to success. Your entire setup is fantastic!

Thank you! I believe the terrarium setup has made a big difference though it has been almost two years in this tank. I was surprised to see the buds and the blooms are much larger than those of my other Drockrillias. Much easier to see for sure!

---------- Post added at 04:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:26 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585

That's a cutie! It was a project plant some years ago, and people had a lot of fun with this one.

I remember that project. I had this plant then and a second one which has yet to bloom. I really like the little pickles.

---------- Post added at 04:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:28 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafmite

What nice blooms! I am definitely impressed that you have this one in bloom. I had one of these during the project but it never bloomed so I finally lost interest (sadly) and gave it away. I do have a few variations of Drockrillia lichenastrum/prenticei which do bloom well for me.

Thanks Leafmite! I honestly didn’t expect this plant to bloom, it seemed it just wasn’t happy enough and I have no idea why it finally spiked. My other Drockrillia have bloomed for me, this one just seemed reluctant. I had not looked a the flowers online and the size of these was a nice surprise. They are reported to have a foul odor, these do not thankfully. I have a prenticei with tiny flowers, it smells like fish．

Leafmite · #6 05-06-2018, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pattywack

Thanks Leafmite! I honestly didn’t expect this plant to bloom, it seemed it just wasn’t happy enough and I have no idea why it finally spiked. My other Drockrillia have bloomed for me, this one just seemed reluctant. I had not looked a the flowers online and the size of these was a nice surprise. They are reported to have a foul odor, these do not thankfully. I have a prenticei with tiny flowers, it smells like fish．

I have three prenticei. One, a large form from Andy's, hasn't bloomed (I hope it won't be fishy), one of my prenticei doesn't have a fragrance while the other smells fruity, like an apricot, and from a few inches away.
Then there is the lichenastrum which has a few years to go to be blooming size, I think. I love these.

Pattywack · #7 08-11-2018, 08:23 PM

I’ve been away for a few days, quick trip to Pennsylvania. A nice surprise opened yesterday. These are the coolest flowers and that frilly lip is awesome. Love the stripes too.

Apparently after all the time this plant was bloomless, it is making up for it this year.

u bada · #8 08-14-2018, 02:31 AM

Amazing!

Funny here in SoCal, dockrillias are grown outdoors subjected to the heat and the (relative) cold in winter, and the dryness and that's how they're known to do best... yet like you, I've known some to grow indoors in tanks under lights and they do ok. Just goes to show plants are adaptable.

Actually a friend and I were discussing on actually many dockrillias come from fairly wetter edges of rainforest in australia then where, say, kingianums and speciosums are in dryer rock cliffs or whenever similar for instance...

I've been resisting getting one for a while... but about time to get one. lol.

Pattywack · #9 08-14-2018, 07:44 AM

U bada, thank you! Drockrillia are easy growers and so different from other orchids in their appearance, much more succulent like. I have had a few for three or four years. All of my plants are mounted, without any moss and they dry between waterings. The three in my terrarium are grown at the top, near the light. I’ve always had them in an enclosed environment.

Earlier this year I purchased three small Drockrillia linguiforme and mounted them to a small log. This Drockrillia was a bit harder to find for some reason. Anyway, that mount sits in a SE facing kitchen window and the plants have rooted well to the wood and have many new leaves. I spray the wood, at the roots every couple of days and it’s adjutsed well. These plants came potted in fine bark chips. Really a cool Drockrillia.

If you like them, you should try a couple. The cucumerinum has such large blooms compared to my other Drockrillia and the linguiforme has fairly large blooms as well. I hope to see this plant flower one day.

Pattywack · #10 08-14-2018, 08:13 AM

U bada, just for kicks. This is the linguiforme this morning. If the sun is shining and the monsoons we’ve been having ends for a few days, the leaves turn a reddish color, much like my Schoenorchis fragrans which is in this same window. The leaves plump up after watering and flatten out with more wrinkles when dry.

I’ve no idea what wood this is, local tree here on the golf course. The rough bark gives it great footing. I think this plant would be awesome mounted on rock.