Dockrillia cucumerina is native to the Southeast Australia, from Sydney to Brisbane. This species once occurred quite often along the rivers of New South Wales, and now occurs inland.
Dockrillia cucumerina also called as The Cucumber Bulb Dockrillia, The Cucumber Orchid, The Gherkin Orchid, Callista cucumerina, Dendrobium cucumerinum, is a species of the genus Dockrillia. This species was described by Brieger in 1981.
IDENTIFY DOCKRILLIA CUCUMERINA
Dockrillia cucumerina is native to the Southeast Australia, from Sydney to Brisbane. This species once occurred quite often along the rivers of New South Wales, and now occurs inland. These plants usually grow in bright light, on river oaks near watercourses at elevations of 50 to 800 meters.
The Cucumber Bulb Dockrillia is a miniature sized, cool to hot growing epiphytic species, which reaching 1.5-3.6 cm in height, with short, cane-like pseudobulbs and cucumber like, 1.5-3.6 cm long leaves on a slender creeping rhizome.
The Cucumber Orchid blooms from the short to 1" (to 2.5 cm), erect inflorescence, which gives rise to a small group of short lived, foul smelling flowers which occur in the late winter and spring. The flowers that do not open completely are 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter. They are creamy to greenish-yellow with wine-red spots, striations or lines near the wavy lip. The flakes of both whorls are very narrow, they form a kind of duster and are twisted.
DOCKRILLIA CUCUMERINA 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:
Dockrillia cucumerina needs a light level of 15000-25000 lux with a light shade. The recommended photoperiod is 12 hours and strong air movement is very important.
Temperature:
The average temperature of the summer day is 30-32 ° C, the night 18-20 ° C, giving a daily difference of 10-13 ° C. The average temperature of the winter day is 21-22 ° C, the night 6-8 ° C, with a daily difference of 13-15 ° C.
Humidity:
For most of the year, The Cucumber Orchid needs the average humidity of 70%, and in the summer it increases to 75%.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Dockrillia cucumerina does not make too many roots and it is very difficult to stabilize. The shoots are extremely fragile, and the plant tends to break into small pieces when moving. The resulting small pieces are rarely survive.
These plants are easier to stabilize and grow better when they are attached to pieces of hardwood or cork with a rough surface. They usually grow in such a way that the leaves are directed downwards. If the plant is mounted with leaves upwards, in the next season growing new growths will rotate and as a result the leaves will grow downwards.
This species can be repotted or divided only when it is absolutely necessary and when new roots grow.
Watering:
The main dry season takes place in autumn, and the second, short period of drought occurs at the end of winter or early spring. In spring and summer, Dockrillia cucumerina should be constantly moist, but in the autumn the amount of water should be reduced.
Fertilizer:
It is recommended to use a 1/4-1/2 dose of orchid fertilizer weekly. From spring to mid-summer, high-nitrogen fertilizer is preferred, but then until the end of autumn it is necessary to switch to high-phosphoric fertilizer.
Rest period:
In winter, the amount of water should be slightly reduced, but Dockrillia cucumerina can never dry up completely or stay dry for too long. It is recommend to keep the plants dry in winter, but morning fogging followed by rapid drying imitates in some way the natural conditions. However, water can not remain on plants for too long. The strong air movement helps rapid drying during the day. Fertilization should always be reduced when the amount of water decreases.
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