The flowers of this Dendrobium speciosum var. pedunculatum were like glowing lights to photograph. Some orchids “catch the light” with little effort when I’m creating orchid portraits, and this is surely one of them.
Dendrobium speciosum is native to Australia and the peduculatum variety is one of the most northerly growing, found in Queensland to the north of the capricornum variety and to the west of variety boreale. Similar to variety capricornum, the pedunculatum variety of Dendrobium speciosum has relatively short, stocky pseudobulbs. This particular plant, which is 15-20 years old in a 8″ pot, has 14 pseudobulbs that are 6-8″ (15-20cm) tall. The flower spikes, however, are “full-size” for Dendrobium speciosum, about 24″ (60cm) in length.
We grow this variety outside until temperatures drop below 40F (4C) at night. It winters in the cool room (50F, 10C nights) from December-March, and flowers in mid to late winter.
Interested in more unique and beautiful orchid images?
My vision to create orchid portraits emerged from my appreciation for the “whole orchid.” So many photographs of orchids focus only on the flower. But orchids are not flowers: they are entire plants and living beings. Connect more deeply with the many dimensions of orchids …
