Dendrobium adae is found in Australia (Cape York Peninsula). It grows epiphytic on trees or lithophyte on rocks in exposed, north to west facing locations in cloud forest or in protected spots in open forests at an altitude of 700 to 1220 meters above sea level...
Dendrobium adae also called as Ada's Dendrobium, Callista adae, Dendrobium ancorarium, Dendrobium palmerstoniae, Thelychiton adae, Tropilis adae, is a species of the genus Dendrobium. This species was described by Frederick Manson Bailey in 1884.
IDENTIFY DENDROBIUM ADAE ORCHID PLANT
Dendrobium adae is found in Australia (Cape York Peninsula). It grows epiphytic on trees or lithophyte on rocks in exposed, north to west facing locations in cloud forest or in protected spots in open forests at an altitude of 700 to 1220 meters above sea level.
It is a small to medium sized, cold to cool growing, semi-pendant species with thin, wiry, erect to semi pendant, up to 40 cm in length stems that are swollen at the base and become yellow-brown and furrowed with age carrying 2 to 4 apical, narrowly or broadly lanceolate, thin, 12-15 cm long and 4-5 cm wide leaves.
Ada's Dendrobium blooms on a 7.5 cm long, apical raceme with 2 to 6 fragrant (scented of orange blossoms) flowers occuring in the winter and early spring. The flowers are cream, about 2 cm in diameter, very strong and pleasantly smell.
DENDROBIUM ADAE ORCHID PLANT 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 adae loves bright sunlight and is able to tolerate direct sunlight (up to 55000 lux), while acquiring a lighter shade of leaves and pseudobulbs. The location of the plant may be southern, western and eastern orientations, on the northern windows.
Temperature:
This kind of orchid refers to a moderate temperature regime, and throughout the year the plants are recommended to contain under the following conditions: Summer temperature is not above 27 ° C; Winter temperature at 15-18 ° C. For the successful growth at home, it is necessary that the night temperature of the contents always be at least 4 ° C lower than the daytime temperature.
Humidity:
In the natural habitats, the relative humidity of the air rarely falls below 50%. However, it should not be forgotten that the orchid grows with a bare root system, braiding the branches of trees and not penetrating into their bark; therefore, due to the high content of steam in the tropical air, the main absorption of moisture occurs (containing roots in tone ) in periods when there is no rain. When growing orchids in substrates, their root system almost all the time is in a moistened state, so the need also in the high humidity of air around the plants is significantly reduced, and in many cases even goes to the detriment, causing decay not only of the roots (which do not have time to dry out) but also the bases of pseudobulbs.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Dendrobium adae can be grow in plastic and clay pots or hanging lattice baskets, and placed on blocks. As a substrate, any purchased mixture based on the bark of coniferous trees, peat and moss sphagnum, it is also possible to grow the plant in a clean moss or to lay bark and moss with layers, for example, 1/3 of a pot of coarse fraction and 2 / 3 pots of pure moss. When growing orchids on blocks to prevent rapid drying of the root system of the plant, it is recommended to make a small interlayer of moss between it and the block. Above the roots, you can also put live or dry sphagnum.
Repotting is desirable only when it is really necessary, for example, in cases of severe salinization or condensation of the substrate, at its critically high or low pH (the norm of 5.5 to 6.5) or , when the plant will grow very much and the pot will become too small for it (pseudobulbs will begin to hang from the edges of the pot). The best time for transplant is the time when new orchid sprouts reach a size of 5 cm and begin to build their own roots.
Watering:
The frequency and abundance of watering the orchids of this species directly depends on the overall temperature of the content and intensity of the illumination, the higher they are, the more often and abundant it is necessary to water. Plants growing on blocks, it is desirable to water daily in the morning, so that by evening their roots could dry out relatively well. When watering orchids in pots, it is necessary to remember that excess water during watering should flow freely out of the pot, as the stagnation of water both inside the pot and in its pallet can very quickly lead to rotting of the roots and the lower part of the plant.
Fertilizer:
During the period of active growth, this kind of orchids is fertilized for every third watering in 1/2 of the fertilizer concentration indicated on the package. In addition to the usual root top dressing, it is also recommended to produce a foliar dressing, when a very much diluted fertilizer is sprayed on the outer part of the plant. It is best to feed the orchid, alternating both these methods. The best fertilizer is fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in equal parts, for example, NPK = 3-3-3 or 8-8-8. If you do not have such a fertilizer, then at the beginning of the growing season (the emergence of new shoots), feed the orchid with a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content, and when the sprout reaches 1/2 of its normal growth - fertilizer with a higher content of phosphorus.
Rest period:
In winter, Dendrobium adae have a sufficiently long (up to 4 months) dry period of rest, during which the watering is reduced to a minimum. During the drought period, the orchid need to keep as long as possible without irrigation, until it begins to show signs of strong wrinkling. The roots of growing on the blocks orchids are recommended to spray at least once every 10-14 days, so as not to lose them ahead of time. Before beginning any manipulation of the orchid, it is advisable to fertilize with phosphorus fertilizers within a month, since in the future (before the beginning of vegetation) the plant will not be fertilized more. With the advent of peduncles, the rest period ends and the watering of the orchid resumes in the usual volume.
COMMENTS