Description
Orchids with variegated leaves have always kindled the lust of collectors. In certain species, variegated forms are very rare, very expensive, and very desirable.
Dendrobium kingianums commonly come in shades of pink or violet, but the white-flowered ones are much rarer, and stunning to behold.
So what happens when you get BOTH white flowers AND leaf variegations in the same plant? Well, you’ve hit the jackpot! We acquired these plants having only seen the lovely variegated leaves but merely assumed that the flowers would bloom out the common pink/violet, as is the case with another well-known Dendrobium kingianum variegated variety. We were shocked when these bloomed out white! On top of that, we’ve observed that the yellow-white variegations on the leaves will turn pink when we grew these in bright light.
Fortunately, this is the kind of jackpot that keeps multiplying, which means we can offer some to fellow variegated alba orchid addicts!
In the wild, D. kingianum grows in the eastern part of Australia where it clings to rocky surfaces or trees. D. kingianum has a number of great qualities, making it a great addition to any orchid collection:
When D. kingianum gets to specimen size, it can produce hundreds of wonderfully fragrant flowers, a very impressive sight (and smell)!
Be sure to give this a winter rest, with reduced watering around late October/November, and a good cool stretch to let the plant set its buds for the spring blooming season.
