Mystery Dendrobium----- ID sought - Orchid Board

Keysguy · #1 03-19-2023, 10:39 AM

Mystery Dendrobium- HELP!!!! I've had this thing from way back. Probably a raffle or auction plant. If it had a tag I lost it a long time ago. It grows great but getting the buds to open without blasting has always been an issue for me. I've tried every cultural trick I can think of but nothing seems to solve the problem. I know the pictures aren't great but does anyone recognize it? It's semi-deciduous and covered with bud spikes of which 90 % will blast before they can fully form. Maybe if I can figure out what it is, I'd have a prayer of solving the culture. Thanks to whoever can help me solve this.

Lil Duck · #2 03-19-2023, 01:09 PM

Dendrobium wilsonii or a large form of Dendrobium moniliforme, Den. wilsonii is sometimes considered a synonym of Den. moniliforme. I don't grow either species but both require a cool dry bright winter for good blooming.

Roberta · #3 03-19-2023, 02:20 PM

Agree that it could be be Den wilsonii, though my Den wilsonii has more pointed segments and no dark area in the throat ... There are so many Dens that look similar, ID may be tough. But the whole group of Himalayan Dens do have similar growth and seasonal pattern.

The "cool" part likely to be hard to accomplish in the Florida Keys, so "dry" or at least "drier" in winter might be something to try. (I don't do "dry" but cool happens naturally where I live and I do get good blooming of these types.)

Lil Duck · #4 03-19-2023, 02:53 PM

Isn't that dark area in the throat just a shadow?? All images of Den. wilsonii have a green throat.

Keysguy · #5 03-19-2023, 02:55 PM

It did the same thing in my greenhouse in NH so I don't think it's a cool thing or day/night temp change.

I did dry/no fert since mid November and THAT hasn't worked.......

It's weird because it develops a ton of bud nodes but then very few ever mature to bloom.

Maybe it's just this plant?

I've always leaned toward moniliforme as well but the petals & sepals on mine are not "pointy" at all (and the lip in particular) which is why I've never been comfortable with that answer.

If mine is a hybrid then mono could well be in the background however.

DirtyCoconuts · #6 03-20-2023, 10:38 AM

are you sure there arent thrips or aphids doing some work? whenever i have a plant that is doing this i release a bag of lady beetles on it and it often takes care of the problem....i buy from natures good guys and i also get mantis larva once or twice a year.

Clawhammer · #7 03-20-2023, 12:04 PM

Fragrant?

Keysguy · #8 03-20-2023, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

Fragrant?

Yes, it is slightly Claw.

---------- Post added at 12:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

are you sure there arent thrips or aphids doing some work? whenever i have a plant that is doing this i release a bag of lady beetles on it and it often takes care of the problem....i buy from natures good guys and i also get mantis larva once or twice a year.

Always a possibility DC but you'd think thrips would be an "all or nothing" situation on any given plant. The flowers that have opened are pristine and there are a couple random good buds elsewhere. When I have thrips on a plant, they get everything. Maybe worse or less on any given part of the plant but nothing escapes them. I do a triple orthene spray routine when I get back in the fall then monthly alternatives thereafter until I leave for the summer. I haven't seen any on anything else since fall.