An orchid with a gorgeous name for a remarkable flower. These photos are of a first bloom seedling of Dendrobium Golden Gate Sunrise, the backcross of Dendrobium chrysopterum ‘New Year’ x Dendrobium Hsinying Chrysopense ‘Golden Gate’ HCC/AOS (75% Dendrobium chrysopterum, 25% Dendrobium glomeratum).
Might I note that the colors are not enhanced? (You can see that the pot is quite a normal green.) The flowers, in bright light, are extraordinarily vibrant and intensely colored for the first few weeks.
We have grown several hybrids of Dendrobium chrysopterum, but have not found them long-lived. The seedlings matured, flowered once or twice, and eventually slowly faded without new growths. There were no obvious causes (e.g., root rot), and we use RO water and low fertilizer, quite acceptable to other New Guinea Dendrobium species that we grow. I can only speculate that there is some genetic incompatibility affecting longevity of these Dendrobium chrysopterum hybrids. Many were grown and sold in our area, but I have never seen a large, flowering plant. With blooms like these, I would expect such an orchid to show up at local society meeting or show.
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