Dendrobium unicum

[Shiva]

This one flowers every year for me and the flowers last forever on the plant. But if I don't cut them off at some point, the plant will die of exhaustion. So I enjoy its beauty and strong peach perfume for about three weeks before I remove the flowers. The plant is in a two inch pots.

 

[werner.freitag]

This is really a special kind of Dendrobium! We just enjoy a unicum-hybrid Dendrobium Stardust, also very long lasting flowers, many on small plants in yellow color.

 

[biothanasis]

Gorgeous!!! I can still hope for mine to bloom!!

 

[JeanLux]

That's too cool!!!! A surviving unicum is unique IMHO !!! Jean

 

[Shiva]

That's too cool!!!! A surviving unicum is unique IMHO !!! Jean

As I said, for the plant to survive you have to cut the flowers off before the plant spends too much energy on them. I've had three unicums before and they all died because I let the flowers stand for months and months. I've had this plant for five years which means I've learned the lesson. I'll probably cut the flowers off in a couple of weeks.

 

[JeanLux]

Thanks, maybe I should have another try then !!! Jean

 

[petro]

This is wonderful! That peach fragrance sounds intoxicating. I'm also a big fan of orchids growing in mossy clay pots.

 

[paphioboy]

Very interesting.. I didn't know unicum flowers last that long.. The last one I bought in bloom lasted only 2 weeks on the plant... I'm gonna have to try another one..

 

[SlipperFan]

Please share your culture of this plant, Shiva.

 

[Shiva]

Grown in a small pot. I'll have to repot it after flowering probably in Aussie Gold mix. Cold in the winter and whatever temps outside in the summer. Water a bit less in winter (RO or rain). As much sun as possible in winter (which is not much around here) and light shade in summer. No particular feeding method though I will try this year to add some organic fertilizer to try and get bulbs a bit more plumps. And of course, cut the flowers after two or three weeks or the plant will flower to death.

 

[Clark]

Sweet looking bloom!

Thanks for the tips Michel. Chrissy bought one 3yrs. ago. Had no clue what I was doing.
No worries mate, it was quick and painless.

 

[luvsorchids]

Likely my favorite Dendrobium :smitten:, but I have never tried to grow one. It's my understanding that Dendrobium lamyaiae is much easier to grow and has a similar look to it.

Susan

 

[John M]

That's wonderful, Shiva! I've tried and tried with this species and lost them all. 'Never cut the flowers though; but, I kinda don't like the idea of doing that. I want the plant to live and I want the flowers to last a lo-ooong time! Maybe I should try again and cut the flowers until the plant is large and stronger. Maybe the problem is that most plants available are quite small and that's the reason why they suffer so badly when they carry flowers for a long time. So, we should just restrict the flower life until the plants grow up to maturity. Then, let them hold the flowers longer? Hmmmm?????

 

[Paphman910]

Where can you get one of these plants in Canada?

Paphman910

 

[Shiva]

That's wonderful, Shiva! I've tried and tried with this species and lost them all. 'Never cut the flowers though; but, I kinda don't like the idea of doing that. I want the plant to live and I want the flowers to last a lo-ooong time!

That's the idea. I'm trying to build up the plant so that I can keep the flowers longer. My hunch is that in nature, the plants grow and flower small, set seeds and then die. So maybe next time I'll keep the flowers a whole month.

Where can you get one of these plants in Canada?

Paphman910

I haven't looked lately but J&L might have some or Ecuagenera. They come to Canada often, at least Ecuagenera for you on the West Coast. You may also look at Paramount Orchids.

 

[W. Beetus]

Interesting bloom! Nice color.

 

[SlipperFan]

Grown in a small pot. I'll have to repot it after flowering probably in Aussie Gold mix. Cold in the winter and whatever temps outside in the summer. Water a bit less in winter (RO or rain). As much sun as possible in winter (which is not much around here) and light shade in summer. No particular feeding method though I will try this year to add some organic fertilizer to try and get bulbs a bit more plumps. And of course, cut the flowers after two or three weeks or the plant will flower to death.

Thank you! I see that I am growing mine all wrong. Time to adjust.