Sedirea japonica and Dendrobium kingianum

[epiphyte78]

I've got two mounted Sedirea japonicas. One is mounted on a rock that is sitting in a shallow clay dish that is usually filled with water. The other is mounted on a vertically oriented ficus branch. Both have small handfuls of New Zealand sphagnum moss between them and their mounts. New Zealand sphagnum moss is considerably more moisture retentive than green sphagnum moss.

Both of them are mounted outdoors and receive very bright light. The rock mounted one is at the edge of 50% white shade cloth and receives a few hours of direct morning sun. The ficus tree the other one is mounted on has been recently transplanted and barely has any leaves so I had to drape lots of spanish moss over the bare branches to help protect the orchids mounted on the tree. I'd say that that S. japanica receives barely filtered direct sun from sunrise all the way till noon. In the afternoon the garage blocks the sun for the rest of the day.

Water wise, I have an overhead misting / fine sprinkler system that I let run while I eat breakfast. Most of my other orchids are mounted with green sphagnum moss so they dry out by the end of the day but the S. japonicas stay fairly moist because of the New Zealand sphagnum moss.

The rock mounted S. japonica had a spike forming when it was attached to the rock and the spike is now 3 times as long and still healthy looking. Both japonicas have new leaves forming.

I've got a handful of mounted kingianums that are growing in pretty much every microclimate that I have. The only thing they can't take is full on afternoon sun. But I'm trying to gradually condition them to be able to do so.

[shakkai]

Do you have any photos of your Sedirea that is mounted on the rock? I'd love to see that!!!

[gmdiaz]

Originally Posted by shakkai

Do you have any photos of your Sedirea that is mounted on the rock? I'd love to see that!!!

I was thinking the same thing. . .I would love to see THAT! And I wouldn't mind seeing your growing area either. lol

[razka3]

It's in bloom now... so here's a few pics... the second spike has yet to open.

Really doesn't smell as strong as I thought it would. Mild lemon citrus smell, kind of like lemonheads. It's refreshing and light.

[calvin_orchidL]

Wow really cute! You are so lucky you got two spikes! I always end up with one with lots of blooms, but I'd prefer 2 with fewer blooms

[Ross]

Originally Posted by razka3

It's in bloom now... so here's a few pics... the second spike has yet to open.

Really doesn't smell as strong as I thought it would. Mild lemon citrus smell, kind of like lemonheads. It's refreshing and light.

Oooh! You have a nice one with extra stripes! Mine's like that also. The typical one only has 3-4 stripes. Mine doesn't have any fragrance that I can detect. Great job.

[razka3]

Originally Posted by calvin_orchidL

Wow really cute! You are so lucky you got two spikes! I always end up with one with lots of blooms, but I'd prefer 2 with fewer blooms

It's really draining the plant's energy to have both of these spikes. It has dropped a leaf already, and another one is shriveling up. But the spikes are in excellent health and overall the plant is great.

[razka3]

Originally Posted by Ross

Oooh! You have a nice one with extra stripes! Mine's like that also. The typical one only has 3-4 stripes. Mine doesn't have any fragrance that I can detect. Great job.

Ah, I didn't know they had ones with different amounts of stripes. Guess I did luck out - it's really cool looking. That's too bad yours doesn't have a smell yet. How long has it been open? Mine have been open maybe 4 days now, and they are just starting to smell more now - usually in the mornings - early afternoon. Have to put your nose right up to the flowers though, maybe 2 inch minimum distance before you can smell it.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by razka3

Ah, I didn't know they had ones with different amounts of stripes. Guess I did luck out - it's really cool looking. That's too bad yours doesn't have a smell yet. How long has it been open? Mine have been open maybe 4 days now, and they are just starting to smell more now - usually in the mornings - early afternoon. Have to put your nose right up to the flowers though, maybe 2 inch minimum distance before you can smell it.

Frank, mine are on the way out. Think it's been over two weeks. Blossoms don't last that long on mine.

[razka3]

NWO seems to think they will last 1-2 months and are fragrant both day and night. Maybe our type is a little different...