Dendrobium atroviolaceum is native to New Guinea. Plants are found in eastern Papua New Guinea, on Rossel Island and on other islands east of New Guinea. In the Milne Bay District, they grow on trunks of large rainforest trees, at 300-750 m. In Irian Jaya (western New Guinea) they were encountered in the Cyclops Mountains near Jayapura.
Dendrobium atroviolaceum, also called as The Black Blood-Red Dendrobium, Dendrobium eustachyum, Dendrobium macgregorii, Latourea atroviolacea, Latourorchis atroviolacea, Sayeria atroviolacea, is a species of the genus Dendrobium. This species was described by Rolfe in 1890.
IDENTIFY DENDROBIUM ATROVIOLACEUM
Dendrobium atroviolaceum is native to New Guinea. Plants are found in eastern Papua New Guinea, on Rossel Island and on other islands east of New Guinea. In the Milne Bay District, they grow on trunks of large rainforest trees, at 300-750 m. In Irian Jaya (western New Guinea) they were encountered in the Cyclops Mountains near Jayapura.
It is a medium sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte, which reaching 20-42 cm in height, with a clavately-fusiform, deeply sulcate, 12-30 cm long, greenish when young, brownish with age stem carrying 2 to 4 apical, ovate-oblong, thick, coriaceous, obtusely obtuse apically, 8-12 cm long, dark green above and paler below leaves.
The Black Blood-Red Dendrobium blooms in mid-winter through early summer with a short to 8" (to 20 cm), axillary raceme arising from just below or at the apex of new or older canes which carries 8 to many fragrant, heavy textured, very long lasting, nodding flowers. The flowers are 4.0-7.5 cm in diameter. The flakes of both whorls can be creamy, pale yellow or greenish-white with purple spots at the base. The lip is green on the outside and on the inside it has a lot of purple stripes.
DENDROBIUM ATROVIOLACEUM CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Dendrobium atroviolaceum needs a light level of 20000-30000 lux. These plants bloom even when they are grown on lighting with wide spectrum fluorescent lamps.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. Throughout the year the average day temperature is 24-28 ° C, the night 20-22 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 4-6 ° C.
Humidity:
The Black Blood-Red Dendrobium needs a humidity level of probably 70-80% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Dendrobium atroviolaceum can be grown on cork, tree fern or other hard, rough wood substrates. In this case, the humidity in the summer must be high and the plants should be watered at least once a day. If they are grown in pots, they should be as small as possible and clay is better than plastic. The substrate must be very airy. Repotting can be done at any time as soon as new roots grow.
Watering:
Water is very abundant throughout the year. Cultivated plants should be constantly moist, but the substrate should not be soggy.
Fertilizer:
It is recommended to fertilize every week or every two weeks 1/4-1/2 doses of fertilizer for orchids. Balanced fertilizer should be used all year round.
Rest period:
Dendrobium atroviolaceum grows at a winter temperature of 13 ° C and tolerates even drops to 10 ° C. In winter, the amount of water and fertilizer should be reduced, especially when grown in dark, short days at moderate latitudes. However, the plants should never completely dry out.
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