ORCHID SPECIES CULTURE
Charles and Margaret Baker

Dendrobium crispilinguum Cribb

AKA: N/A. 

ORIGIN/HABITAT: Papua New Guinea, including the Western Highlands, Chimbu,
Eastern Highlands, Enga, and Morobe Provinces. Plants commonly grow in
mountain rainforests at 3600-5250 ft. (1100-1600 m), but in Enga Province,
they are found as high as 5900 ft. (1800 m). 

CLIMATE: Station #94010, Goroka, Papua New Guinea, Lat. 6.1S, Long.
145.4E, at 5141 ft. (1567 m). Temperatures are calculated for an elevation
of 4600 ft. (1400 m), resulting in probable extremes of 89F (32C) and 45F
(7C). 

N/HEMISPHERE    JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
F AVG MAX        78   79   80   81   81   80   81   80   80   80   81   79
F AVG MIN        58   59   59   59   60   61   61   61   62   61   61   59
DIURNAL RANGE    20   20   21   22   21   19   20   19   18   19   20   20
RAIN/INCHES     2.1  2.8  4.6  5.9  6.6  9.3  9.1 10.1 10.7  8.3  4.6  2.0
HUMIDITY/%       70   67   67   67   67   71   72   73   74   71   70   70
BLOOM SEASON                                         *    *    *    *
DAYS CLR        N/A
RAIN/MM          53   71  117  150  168  236  231  257  272  211  117   51
C AVG MAX      25.4 26.0 26.5 27.1 27.1 26.5 27.1 26.5 26.5 26.5 27.1 26.0
C AVG MIN      14.3 14.9 14.9 14.9 15.4 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.5 16.0 16.0 14.9
DIURNAL RANGE  11.1 11.1 11.6 12.2 11.7 10.5 11.1 10.5 10.0 10.5 11.1 11.1
S/HEMISPHERE    JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN

Cultural Recommendations:

LIGHT: 2500-3000 fc. 

TEMPERATURES: Throughout the year, days average 78-81F (25-27C), and
nights average 58-62F (14-17C), with a diurnal range of 18-22F (10-12C). 

HUMIDITY: 70-75% from summer into autumn, dropping to 65-70% in winter and
spring. Plants require excellent air movement. 

WATER: Rainfall is moderate to heavy most of the year with slightly drier
conditions for 3 months in winter. Cultivated plants should be kept moist
but not soggy. Occasional early morning mistings may be beneficial,
especially on bright, sunny days. 

FERTILIZER: 1/4-1/2 recommended strength. A balanced fertilizer should be
applied weekly to biweekly throughout the year. 

REST PERIOD: Growing temperatures should be maintained all year. In the
habitat, rainfall is lowest in winter, but dew and mist from fog and low
clouds are common. Water and fertilizer should be reduced somewhat for
cultivated plants, especially those grown in the dark, short-day
conditions common during temperate-latitude winters. Plants should be kept
on the dry side, but they should never be allowed to dry out completely.
In the habitat, light is higher in winter. 

GROWING MEDIA: Plants may be mounted on tree-fern or cork slabs if
humidity is high and plants are watered at least once daily in summer.
When plants are potted, any open, fast-draining medium may be used.
Repotting is best done in early spring when new roots are growing. 

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: The bloom season shown in the climate table is based
on reports from the habitat. Plants may rarely bloom in spring. Growers
indicate that excellent air circulation around the roots is critically
important to a healthy plant. Canadian growers report that their plants
bloom in Feb.-Mar. (Aug.-Sept.). 

Plant and Flower Information: 

PLANT SIZE AND TYPE: An erect, 35-79 in. (90-200 cm) sympodial epiphyte. 

PSEUDOBULB: 35 in. (90 cm) long, rarely to 79 in. (200 cm). The slender,
canelike pseudobulbs are swollen at the base. They turn orange when dry. 

LEAVES: 8-10 at the apex of each growth. The leaves are 3-5 in. (8-13 cm)
long, ovate-lanceolate, leathery, and suberect. 

INFLORESCENCE: 16 in. (41 cm) long. Numerous suberect or spreading
inflorescence emerge through the leaf bases at the upper leaf nodes. 

FLOWERS: 18-20 per inflorescence. The slender flowers are 1.6 in. (4 cm)
across. Sepals and petals are cream, yellowish, or greenish white. The
linear petals are twisted 1-3 times. The lip is white or greenish and
heavily suffused with lilac or purple. The lip midlobe is wavy and ruffled
along the margin with 5 ridges on the callus. The 3-lobed lip is not
recurved. 

HYBRIDIZING NOTES: Chromosome count is 2n = 38 (ref. 152, 243). As a
parent, D. crispilinguum imparts color, a high degree of cold tolerance,
and attractive, erect flowers. Plants are known to hybridize with D.
lineale Rolfe and D. tangerinum Cribb. 

REFERENCES: 80, 84, 95, 152, 179, 196, 233, 243, 345, 379, 526, 551, 554. 

PHOTOS/DRAWINGS: 80, 84, 345. 


Copyright 1997, Charles O. Baker and Margaret L. Baker
Sheet version 547509

.........................................................................
Please remember that this sheet is for your use only, and though it was
provided free of charge, it may not be reproduced or retransmitted in
any way without permission.
.........................................................................

__________________________________________________________________________
 "Orchid Species Culture" Charles & Margaret Baker, Portland, Oregon USA

    Orchid Culture & Pollination site    http://www.orchidculture.com
                     
                   email <cobaker@troymeyers.com>
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