Gene

Dave has given you some good advice. I had drafted this message before Dave
posted his so there may be some overlap.

There are several varieties or species of D. speciosum (depending on which
authority you listen too) and they can be quite different in size depending
on where in the distribution range they come from.

Their growing conditions also vary depending on where they originate from.
There distribution is from Far North Queensland down to the NSW/Victorian
border so have a climate distribution from tropical to temperate.

The ones from FNQ would experience a dry winter and the ones from the
Southern areas would experience a wetter winter. We just had floods a
couple of weeks ago in the area near the NSW/VIC coastal border so it can
get quite wet during the southern winter. The secret is to grow these in a
well draining medium or mounted, bearing in mind that many grow
lithophytically in nature with just leaf humus around the roots. They are
very cold tolerant and I have mine outdoors all year round. Temperatures
get down to about 3°C over winter on some days.

The size of the canes can also vary from about 30cm (1 foot) to over a meter
(39 inches +) depending on the species/variety.

I have mine mounted together with a stag fern and attached to a brick wall
under a jacaranda tree (deciduous) so it gets shaded during the heat of
summer but gets full sun during winter. The roots have now attached
themselves to the bricks so not sure if this plant will ever be moved again.
The stag keeps the roots moist and cooler during the hot summers and makes a
lovely companion plant. (see photo on ABPO). My plant has got to be well
over 30 years old as I bought it as a mature plant that many years ago. The
flower spikes are just showing now (mid winter - looks like a good year as
we had some really cold days which seem to stimulate flower production) and
usually flower late September (early Spring).

At the ANOS club meetings, people joke about waiting at least 15 years for
seedlings of D. speciosum to flower so not many over 60 year olds buy
seedlings. They want to be alive to see them flower! If yours is in a 6
inch pot I would suggest you have a few more years before you see flowers.
Good luck with your plant of this majestic Australian native. in time, you
will be rewarded with a magnificent display.

~John


"Dave Gillingham" wrote in message
...
Gene,

Some of the other Aussies may like to reply as well.

D. speciosum is a very widespread plant in Oz, rangeing from north east
Victoria
to tropical Queensland, with something like 8 varieties identified. In
whatever
region, it almost always grows in mountainous areas, usually east side ie
towards our fairly narrow coastal plains, on rock faces or high in trees.
Almost
all the varieties strongly prefer good air movement (high trees or cliff
faces,
or creek gorges), which typically also provide good humidity. However,
our
winters on the east coast are periods of much reduced rainfall - but not
full
drought. Hence the standard advice you cite.

My advice would be to water it occasionally, no more than once weekly, but
on a
warm day. This assumes a well-drained medium. Light needs are variable,
depending on the variety, but typically good filtered sun.

Flowering? Mature size for varieties ranges from 10-12" th 24" plus, so
it's
hard to suggest when yours may bloom. The standard wisdom also suggests
most
varieties need a cold snap to stimulate flowering - warm winters are
typically
followed by poor blooming.

Because of its size, D. speciosum is usually much longer from seedling to
flowering than most othes Aussie Dens. I have a variety grandiflorum that
I
purchased as an advanced seedling in 2004 - I wouldn't expect flowers for
at
least a couple of years yet.



On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:46:04 GMT, "Gene Schurg"

wrote:

Need some info from the orchid lovers from down under. I have a Den
speciosum that is in the second year of my care. I think I got it from
H&R
last year. It now is in a 6 inch clay pot and putting out two nice
growths
that are starting to harden off.

I see on a website that this species needs a dry cool winter. When they
say
dry do they mean no water at all like the Den aggregatum? Full drought or
just dryer than summer watering? How large does this plant have to be
before
I can expect a bloom? The new growth for this year look to be about 6-7
inches long.

Thanks,
Gene

Dave Gillingham
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