Dendrobium pugioniforme is endemic to eastern Australia. It grows on trees and rocks in humid forest between the Bunya Mountains in south-east Queensland and Tathra in New South Wales from sea level to altitudes of 1000 meters.
Dendrobium pugioniforme also called as The dagger orchid, Callista pugioniformis, Dockrillia pugioniformis, Dendrobium pungentifolium, is a species of the genus Dendrobium. This species was described by Allan Cunningham ex John Lindley in 1839.
IDENTIFY DENDROBIUM PUGIONIFORME ORCHID PLANT
Dendrobium pugioniforme is endemic to eastern Australia. It grows on trees and rocks in humid forest between the Bunya Mountains in south-east Queensland and Tathra in New South Wales from sea level to altitudes of 1000 meters.
It is a miniature sized, hot to cool growing epiphyte with sympodial, 0.3-2 m long and about 2 mm wide stems hanging in large masses carrying thick, ovate, shortly petiolate, acuminate, green, 3-7 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide leaves.
The dagger orchid blooms in the spring on a short, single flowered inflorescence arising towards the apex of the stem with fragrant, non-resupinate flowers that last for about 2 weeks. The flowers are green or yellow with a white labellum.
DENDROBIUM PUGIONIFORME 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 pugioniforme like plenty of light, but cannot stand the full noonday rays of the sun (15000-40000 lux, filtered or diffused light is recommended.). These usually do best when placed so that they can get the early morning sun, but are shaded from about 10 a.m. onwards in the Summer time. In the Winter they can usually stand the sun's rays up to 11.30 a.m.
Temperature:
The average temperature of the summer day is 24-25 ° C, night 20 ° C, giving a daily difference of 4-5 ° C. In winter the average day temperature is 11-14 ° C, night 7-10 ° C, giving a daily difference of 4-5 ° C.
Humidity:
For most of the year, The dagger orchid need the humidity of almost 80%, but at the end of winter and at the beginning of spring it drops to around 60%. Too dry air has a negative effect on the development of the plant: its growth is inhibited, and the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out. The higher temperature, the higher the humidity should be, and the higher the humidity, the more often and longer it is necessary to ventilate the room where the plants are contained, otherwise the probability of rotting and various kinds of fungal diseases.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Dendrobium pugioniforme grows best on blocks which are pieces of hardwood of suitable length and width (usually about 12 inches by 5 inches is satisfactory), or of palmwood or tree fern trunk, to which the plant is bound with copper wire. When hardwood is used, a little fibre should be fastened to the surface to make it easy for the young roots to obtain a grip. Where tree fern is used, the basal part of the trunk, which is covered with thick, fibrous growth, should be used. Where the roots of the orchid are scanty or weak, a little sphagnum between the plant and the block will encourage quick root growth. Where the roots are plentiful and vigorous, however, this is not necessary.
Watering:
The dagger orchid will need heavy watering from the commencement of Summer until the first chill spell of Autumn, when watering should practically cease until the new shoots appear in Spring. Watering is directly dependent on the temperature of the content, the higher it is, the more often it needs to be watered. When watering, excess water should flow freely from the pot, since stagnation of water both inside the pot and in its pan can very quickly lead to rotting of the roots and the lower part of the plant.
Fertilizer:
It is recommended to use a 1/4-1/2 dose of orchid fertilizer weekly. You can use the balanced fertilizer throughout the year or from spring to mid-summer use high-nitrogen fertilizer, and then until the end of autumn high-phosphoric fertilizer to stimulate flowering.
Rest period:
Dendrobium pugioniforme need less water in the winter, especially if they grow under the conditions of a dark, short day that occurs at moderate latitudes. They should dry somewhat between waterings, but they should not be dry for a longer period. Frequent morning fogging and rare, economical watering should allow the plant to go through a dry period of rest, while providing it with sufficient humidity. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear and a more abundant spring watering begins.
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