Dockrillia rigida is native to Australia and New Guinea. This orchid is very widespread and popular in New Guinea, where it usually grows in mangrove bushes in marshy coastal lowlands, at altitudes from sea level up to 700 m...
Dockrillia rigida also called as The Rigid-Leafed Dockrillia, The Smooth Tongue Orchid, The Smooth Tick Orchid, Callista rigida, Dendrobium desmotrichoides, Dendrobium rigidum, Dockrillia desmotrichoides, is a species of the genus Dockrillia. This species was described by Stephan Rauschert in 1983.
IDENTIFY DOCKRILLIA RIGIDA
Dockrillia rigida is native to Australia and New Guinea. This orchid is very widespread and popular in New Guinea, where it usually grows in mangrove bushes in marshy coastal lowlands, at altitudes from sea level up to 700 m. In Australia it is found from the Russell River up to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula. It usually grows on mangrove swamps, but it can also be found on trees along the ravines and on rocks, on rubber trees (a variety of eucalyptus with hard bark) growing in low mountains and dry savannas, sometimes at a considerable distance from the coast.
The Rigid-Leafed Dockrillia is a hot to warm growing, miniature sized epiphyte, which reaching 15-40 cm in height with a much branching rhizome giving rise to erect, drooping or pendulous, 1 to 3 noded, 15-40 cm long stems carrying a single apical, fleshy, ovate or obovate, apiculate, acute or obtuse, 2-6 cm long leaf.
The Smooth Tongue Orchid blooms through the winter and spring on a 5 cm long or less, one to six flowered inflorescence that has tiny yellow and orange, heavily scented, inverted flowers. The flowers are 1-2 cm in diameter. The petals of both whorls are creamy to yellow, sometimes with pink or rusty mosaics on the underside. The lip, which may be short and narrow or broad and protruding, is usually slightly curved. It is light yellow with a different amount of orange or pink-red along the edges and this coloring can extend up to the centerline. Some clones have a pure yellow lip. The cover of the anther chamber is bright green.
DOCKRILLIA RIGIDA 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 rigida needs a light level of 30000-45000 lux. These plants recommend 50% shading and strong air movement throughout the year in the summer.
Temperature:
In summer, the average daytime temperature is 31-32 ° C, at 24 ° C during the night, which gives a daily difference of 7-8 ° C. The average temperature of the winter day is 26-28 ° C, and the night 19-21 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 7 ° C.
Humidity:
The Rigid-Leafed Dockrillia needs the humidity of 70-75% for most of the year, but drops to 65-70% at the end of winter and spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Due to the very slow growth, Dockrillia rigida are best grown on a cork, tree fern, hard tree or other hard, rough rootstock with high humidity ensured, and during the hot weather several times watering during the day. It is recommend a washer of at least 10x15 cm. Air movement is very important. The plants planted in pots are much harder to keep in good condition, because they hate "wet feet" and must dry out between waterings. If pots must already be used, flat containers or baskets filled with loose, fast-drying substrate and suspended so that the hanging shoots can hang downwards are recommended. These plants need to dry quickly between waterings, but the roots can not be dehydrated.
Repotting is best done at the beginning of spring, when new roots begin to grow. Seedlings should be planted in a standard seedbed or immediately padded, with a small panel of tree ferns. You should not be planted in sphagnum moss, because it holds water for too long, which kills young plants. To keep seedlings alive, air movement is very important.
Watering:
In summer and early autumn, Dockrillia rigida should be constantly moist, but the substrate should not be soggy. At the end of autumn, when new growths reach maturity, the amount of water should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer:
Weekly use of 1/4 - 1/2 dose of fertilizer for orchids is recommended. From spring to mid-summer, high-nitrogen fertilizer is preferred, and high-phosphorus should be used in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
In the winter and at the beginning of spring, Dockrillia rigida must dry out between waterings, but they can never remain dry for too long. Although these plants are very tolerant to drought, mounted plants grow better if in the winter they are slightly fogged. Excessive water in winter will kills the plants, especially those growing in pots.
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