Dendrobium normanbyense

[The Mutant]

Finally! It took forever for it to open all of the buds and unfurl the flowers enough for me to take pictures of them.

This is my little darling that I've had for about 1½ years now. This is its third flowering since I got it, so it seems easy to get to flower. The first time it had 3 flowers, the second time it had 2 spikes with a total of 7 flowers, and this time it has 5 spikes with a total of 14 flowers (it has a 6th spike with one single bud but I don't want to wait for that one, since it's so far behind the rest). It has increased its flower count by leaps and bounds.

Oh, and with 14 flowers the vanilla fragrance is much more pronounced than earlier flowerings.



The first picture is a comparison between how it looks today and when I got it. As you might notice, the bulbs are a bit wrinkled in the first picture. This is due to the Great Drought my orchids all experienced during summer. At least I didn't kill this one.

The funny thing is that I was worried when I got it because it didn't have that many roots... And, yes. It needs to be repotted.

The colour isn't quite right in this picture (the purple is too red):

This is better:

I love all those spots!

 

[Shiva]

Gorgeous! How big can it get? Also, does it grow warm or cold?

 

[troy]

Very nice, can't get mine to bloom aarrggghh

 

[The Mutant]

Gorgeous! How big can it get? Also, does it grow warm or cold?

Thank you.

I don't know how big they can get. I guess mine won't get any taller, only wider. It's a mighty ~22cm (9") tall including the pot, so it's not a large Den.

It's from the Latouria section, so not a cold grower. Mine get temps from the warmer end of intermediate temps to the colder end of warm ones. Perfect for a windowsill in other words. Oh, and mine stands together with the multis, but I think it can grow and flower perfectly well at lower light levels.

Very nice, can't get mine to bloom aarrggghh

Threaten it!

 

[troy]

Lol.. I'll put it in a brighter spot. yours is nice

 

[MaryPientka]

Lovely! I can see its influence in my hybrid. Great growing!

 

[17andgrowing]

Nice.

 

[Ozpaph]

Lovely. I thought these liked to be 'under-potted'?

 

[The Mutant]

Lovely. I thought these liked to be 'under-potted'?

Hmm... You're absolutely right. The question is; how under-potted is good and how under-potted is too under-potted? The plant grows in two directions and both sides have reached the edge of the pot.

I will at least replace the bark though, since it wasn't that fresh when I got it so I think it's rather deteriorated by now.

 

[Secundino]

Just lovely! A bit of envy, too...

 

[Ozpaph]

1-2 years growth is my suggestion

 

[Migrant13]

Such a colorful dendrobium...nice growing. I need one of these!

 

[paphioboy]

That's wild!! I love the combination of spotted petals and the bright purple lip.. 9 inches is pretty small for this section of Dendrobium, so good thing if it stays compact instead of becoming a 4-foot monster like spectabile or macrophyllum..

 

[limuhead]

To my understanding normanbyense was once considered a variety of atroviolaceum. It has been given species status for, well not sure how long. H&R was selling them as atroviolaceum var. Pygmy I have grown a few, very easy to grow, tolerant of light levels, water, fert, just about everything. One of the better species in the section I think.
Yours will look like this very soon. I think this is in a 4 inch pot, roots cracked the pot so I just dropped it in a 6 inch, no media.

 

[Ozpaph]

thats a great display

 

[paphioboy]

Holhy $%^&*(!!!!

 

[MaryPientka]

Holhy $%^&*(!!!!

I agree

 

[NYEric]

Both nice. Thanks for sharing.

 

[The Mutant]

To my understanding normanbyense was once considered a variety of atroviolaceum. It has been given species status for, well not sure how long. H&R was selling them as atroviolaceum var. Pygmy I have grown a few, very easy to grow, tolerant of light levels, water, fert, just about everything. One of the better species in the section I think.
Yours will look like this very soon. I think this is in a 4 inch pot, roots cracked the pot so I just dropped it in a 6 inch, no media.
[Amazing picture]

They seem to have changed it when I was trying to find one, because at first I looked for atroviolaceum var. pygmy and then normanbyense. I don't care what they call it; it's small, easy and has gorgeous flowers.

I agree. It seems very easy and sturdy. Perfect beginner's Dendrobium species I would say.

Wow! I hope it doesn't grow that big (although the display is amazing :drool: ) 'cause then it won't fit on the windowsill anymore!

 

[Secundino]

Oh wow, that is stunning! But remember you are growing under hawaian conditions, comparing is not fair! We have 'cold' winter now!!!