Dendrobium strialatum (Tassie east coast)

Bring a piece of Tasmania's rugged east coast into your home with this stunning native orchid. Known as the Streaked Rock Orchid, this specific form of Dendrobium striolatum grows on granite boulders and cliffs, adapting to a hardy, exposed life. Its wiry, pendulous leaves and intricate, streaked flowers are a testament to its resilience and unique beauty. This is a must-have for the native orchid collector, offering an opportunity to cultivate a rare and beautiful species with a distinct Australian provenance.

Care Requirements

• Light: Bright, filtered light. Avoid direct midday or afternoon sun, but ensure it receives plenty of morning light. Can handle high light levels, which may cause leaves to develop a purplish-red tinge.
• Temperature: Cool to cold growing. Tolerates a wide range of temperatures, but does best with a diurnal drop. Can withstand temperatures down to freezing if kept dry.
• Watering: Allow the potting medium to dry out almost completely between waterings, especially in cooler weather. Water heavily during the summer growing season, and reduce frequency significantly during winter.
• Humidity: Prefers good air movement and can tolerate lower humidity than many other orchids, but thrives with moderate humidity around 60%.
• Potting: As a lithophyte, it grows best mounted on a slab of hardwood or tree fern. If potting, use a very coarse, fast-draining mix like bark chips. Repot when the plant outgrows its mount or the medium breaks down.
• Fertilizing: Feed with a weak, balanced orchid fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Reduce or cease feeding in autumn and winter.

Genetic History & Provenance

• Parentage: n/a (Species Orchid)
• Hybridizer: Nature
• Registration: n/a
• Awards: n/a
• Note: This is a wild-type species, not a hybrid. Our stock is sourced from divisions of established Australian collections, ensuring authenticity and local adaptation.

Flowering and Maturity Profile

• Season: Late winter to spring (September to November in Australia).
• Bloom Size: Approximately 1.5 cm to 2 cm.
• Coloration: Flowers are typically yellow, cream, or greenish with distinctive reddish-brown streaks on the sepals and petals.
• Fragrance: Mild, sweet fragrance.
• Growth Habit: A mini-miniature sized lithophyte with pendent, wiry, and terete leaves, forming a dense mat or cascading growth.

Why Buy This Plant? (Action Hook)

• Resilience: An exceptionally hardy and forgiving native species, making it suitable for beginners looking to venture into native Australian orchids.
• Collector Value: This specific Tasmanian form is a highly sought-after species, representing a unique ecotype with a rich natural history.
• Belgrave Quality: Our stock is robust and well-established, grown with care to ensure the plant is ready to thrive in your collection.