Dendrobium kingianum

Pink rock orchid

An Australian rock orchid that forms mats on sandstone and other rock faces in open forest and along creeks, from central Queensland to the Hunter River in New South Wales. It is tough and bright-growing, with warm, wet summers and cool, dry winters. Growers who skip the cool, dry, bright winter rest often get leaves and keikis but no flowers.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Almost always lithophytic, forming clumps and mats up to several metres across on rock shelves, boulders and cliff faces, often facing north to east, in open eucalypt forest and along forest creeks. It also grows in shadier gullies and occasionally on trees. It favours sandstone, which holds moisture and stays cool. Roots lie over bare rock or in pockets of leaf litter in crevices and can go without water for long periods.

Measured records span 42–1240 m (median 500 m), from near the coast up into the Great Dividing Range, where winter nights are cold.

Australia: QueenslandAustralia: New South Wales

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY 2.0 licence, unmodified.