Dendrobium stratiotes Rchb. f. 1886

 

In my experience, this Dendrobium does well and its easy to grow in Puerto Rico.  Once the canes have reached mature size, they will produce long lasting flowers.  The canes can vary in size depending on the genetics of the plant and the care it receives.   Sadly, I lost it because I became too complacent about its care.  The thing is, once the cane reaches the side of the pot, its a must to repot it taking care to damage the roots as little as possible.   Neglecting repotting can cause the loss of the plant once the roots that are in the pot die. 

Dendrobium MacPerson, the first of my plants to have flowers in 2015

Dendrobium Alex MacPherson is the hybrid of Dendrobium Salak and Dendrobium helix.  Den. Salak is a hybrid of Den. stratiotes and Den. discolor.   In this particular plant the strength of the heritage of the Den. helix parent can be noted in the color of the flower.  The flowers of this hybrid resemble mainly the flowers of the Den. helix parent, although they are smaller and more numerous in the inflorescence than the flowers of my plant of Den. helix.

In this particular plant the flowers are crowded in the inflorescence which makes it difficult to take good photos of individual flowers.  I cut some flowers from the inflorescence so I could show the variation on petal orientation between different flowers.  There is also some very slight variation of color between individual flowers.

A few years back I brought a number of plants of this species because they were labeled Den. helix.  As they bloom during the year I document the differences between the different clones.  In this one the pink is confined to the sepals while the petals are orange.  Some flowers show a bit of orange color on the sepals.  

Dendrobium Norman 'Pam' FCC/HOS An outstanding "antilope" Dendrobium

I have grown Dendrobium Norman 'Pam' FCC/HOS for many years, it does well under the local climate.  My plant produces large, long lasting flowers in relatively short inflorescences.  My plant won't bloom in canes that are shorter than three feet tall and lack a strong root system.  It needs bright light to bloom.  This plant needs to be fertilized regularly of the canes won't grow to their full potential.  It does best with a high nitrogen fertilizer.  My plant has grown better when its roots are in an airy open media.  I drench my plant once a week in dry weather, otherwise it can survive very well with the local rainfal with no additional watering.  This plant has given me little trouble over the years with the exception that when it has several large canes it become top heavy and the canes need to be secured so the won't break from their own weight or topple the plant in windy weather.

Dendrobium Alex MacPherson, It was labeled Den. helix when I brought it.

A few years ago I  brought a number of plants labeled Dendrobium helix.  When this one bloomed it turned out to be Dendrobium Alex MacPherson, a hybrid.   It parents are Dendrobium Salak (Den. Stratiotes x Den. undulatum) and Dendrobium helix.