Australian Dendrobium in bloom...out of season!!

This week Plant Lovers let's take a look at a plant I bought eight months ago from an orchid show that many of you were worried was virused! It's a fairly complex hybrid: Dendrobium Colonial Campio X Dendrobium speciosum 'Windermere'. Well....I think we can conclude it WAS sun damage and environmental damage after all! But that's not the focus of this video. The plant has burst into fabulous bloom...in Autumn! Now most of the Australian Dendrobiums; kingianum, delicatum, speciosum and their hybrids bloom in early spring. So what's going on with this one? It could just be one of those odd things that happen, or! It could be some of the species ancestors of the hybrids have different flowering cycles. Let's see!
You can find the research site Orchid Roots here: orchidroots.com/
And this is the mycorrhizal fungi I use: biostim.com.au...

[@nicoleb2261]

Great video as always. This Dendrobium has been registered as Den Gippsland so you can update your tag :) The influence of Den bigibbbum and Den tetragonum, at a relatively high percentage in the ancestry, means that it could be expected to bloom 2-3 times per year. Den bigibbum is flowering now in Aus (literally) prior to entering the dry season, and Den tetragonum flowers 2-3 times per annum pending habit, watering and temperature. Den speciosum influences flower count and growth habit, with the varietal 'Windermere' passing on a crummier shape, but unlike many speciosum clones, it allows the penetration of colour through its progeny (hence why it is used commonly in breeding). The bigibbum influence reduces the cold tolerance of its hybrids, so it's important to note that this same orchid grown in a more exposed position with lower humidity could potentially succumb to rot over winter if left wet and cold overnight. A curse of the 'Tropicool' hybrids to be aware of!

[@nicoleb2261]

Also, many mycorrhizal fungi are very species-specific and aren't necessary in the growing of many orchids in cultivation. The fungus powder used is a non-native that 'supports' grass, roses, agricultural plants; not a native fungus. We also grow up orchids in flasks without any fungus whatsoever very successfully due to the nutrient-rich nature of the agar, however there are species which require specific fungi such as several native terrestrials, which we harvest fungi from growing plants to isolate, grow on and use to germinate some terrestrial orchid seed. I grow hundreds of both of the above in Melbourne with no use of additional fungi powders with no issues :)

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@newmanmansell760]

Hi Mathew😌🙌I thoroughly enjoyed watching👏🌟The in depth ancestry of the dendrobium was very interesting😌🙏🌟

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@grandmothergoose]

I'd always been put off of having an interest in orchids by too many people ranting about how hard they are to grow, and how fragile they are, but after watching a few of your videos my fears have been alleviated and I invested in two inexpensive but pretty Aussie native orchids this afternoon. Thank you for the relaxed and open approach and wonderful orchid stories.

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh good luck! They are a very easy way to begin and VERY rewarding when they're in bloom.

[@juliashearer7842]

It feels like story time when you get your wonderful book out 😊

[@helloplantlovers]

I do love a good read! Thanks for watching!!

[@sandramynard1046]

Matthew you’ve missed your calling, as well as a clever orchid grower your gift of the gab is highly entertaining 😊💕🌺

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@wandashaw3551]

She is beautiful and the colors are amazing 👏 😍 ❤

[@helloplantlovers]

Isn't it fabulous! Thanks for watching!!

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

anytime biggibum is crossed in with an Aussie Den, they can bloom whenever. The two most readily available biggibum hybrids are Berry 'Oda' and Jonathan's Glory. Berry typically blooms heavy in spring with a smaller bloom in autumn. Jonathan's Glory tends to bloom heavily in both spring and autumn, although I often get a random spike through the rest of the year.

[@helloplantlovers]

I'm keen to see what this plant does in the future! Thanks for watching!!

[@annadaccione332]

great info about water on leaves, sometimes it's inavoidable, love the blooms thank you

[@helloplantlovers]

It is! Just depends if it's cold and damp.

[@michaeln3125]

Love it !

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@dianecollins2735]

Thanks very much Matthew. I enjoyed the focus on Australian native orchids very much as I recently added several hybrids to my collection. From an environmental perspective the flowers of Australian natives are great for attracting bees and other helpful insects to our Brisbane garden. Enjoying the flowering of several Den. bigibbum var superbum at the moment.

[@helloplantlovers]

Sounds wonderful - thanks for watching!

[@terryviljoen7475]

We have the same here in the Western Cape SA. Nearly no rain and still quite warm weather and the plants does not know what season it is. Dens also show flower spikes, so early in the year/season.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - it’s going to be an odd season!

[@derekcheah]

I believe I have the same orchid (lost the tag) and it flowers every spring for me in Sydney weather. I am not able to enjoy the blooms as I have found new growths to be attracting dendrobium beetles and flower spikes attracting aphids!

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh no! But thanks for watching!

[@Joe-nj3bb]

My kingianum finally started to grow something recently and it's the beginning of a new cane. It might be making new roots at the top of the pot, but it's all covered. I was worried it wasn't going to do anything for a while. I think I added some leca to the mix, but I heard they can pretty much grow in anything.

[@helloplantlovers]

They are pretty tough if the basics are covered! Thanks for watching!