Dendrobium cuthbertsonii var. semi-alba

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii is probably my favorite orchid, though it's always hard to choose favorites.  It's flowers are huge for the size of the plant, they last six months or longer, and they come in an array of different colors.  I even like the fact that they are somewhat of a challenge to grow.

The most common color is red, but the plants come in every shade of red, orange, yellow and white, even in bicolor forms.  They are native to the mountains of Papua New Guinea, but many of the colors are the result of hybridizing and selective breeding.  Some of these are also easier to grow.

This is a pale yellow form that is referred to as semi-alba.  My plant is in bloom almost year around and continues to produce new flowers as the old ones fade.  The plant itself is 2 cm tall, and the flowers are 3 cm long.  I grow it cool and mounted and give it as much light as I can.

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii var. semi-alba

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii is, without doubt, the crown jewel of the miniature orchid world.  It is tiny, less than 2 cm tall, and has large colorful flowers that dwarf the plant and that last six to nine months.  The flowers are trumpet shaped, about 2.5 cm long and the same across the open front of the flower.

The species is from New Guinea and comes in many different color varieties, including red, orange, pink, and various bicolor forms.  This particular plant was purchased as a semi-alba variety but is pale yellow rather than white with the typical maroon band around the edge of the lip. 

This species can be quite temperamental and is considered difficult to grow.  I have another plant of the species that has not put out new growth for over a year.  This plant, however, seems to be quite vigorous.  It is grown mounted and with the highest light I can give it, just inches from the HO fluorescent bulbs I use.

The species requires cool temperatures and simply will not do well unless this requirement is met.  It is reputed to hate fertilizer, but in my conditions gets watered with a weak fertilizer solution (a pinch of 10-30-10 in 2 gallons of water) every 2 out of three waterings.