Caladenia tensa Plant Care
Caladenia tensa G.W.Carr
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Caladenia tensa, commonly known as the rigid spider orchid, is a plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a ground orchid with a single leaf and one or two pale green flowers with red stripes.
Bright indirect to dappled sunlight
At a glance
How do you care for Caladenia tensa?
Caladenia tensa grows best in bright indirect to dappled sunlight.
Where Is the Caladenia tensa Native To?
What Is the Caladenia tensa?
Caladenia tensa (Caladenia tensa) belongs to the Orchidaceae family within the Caladenia genus. Caladenia tensa is native to the Little Desert National Park in Victoria and in the far south-east of South Australia.
Caladenia tensa displays a terrestrial, tuberous growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Caladenia tensa produces colorful, intricate orchid flowers with unique shapes and patterns.
What Light Does the Caladenia tensa Need?
Caladenia tensa thrives in bright indirect to dappled sunlight. Avoid placing Caladenia tensa in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect to dappled sunlight
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Caladenia tensa?
Well-draining orchid mix with bark chips and sphagnum moss. Good drainage is essential for Caladenia tensa to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Caladenia tensa?
Repot every 1-2 years after flowering. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Caladenia tensa?
Caladenia tensa can be propagated through division, seed sowing. Similar propagation techniques also apply to winged spider orchid plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Caladenia tensa Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Caladenia tensa, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Caladenia tensa?
Caladenia tensa is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Caladenia tensa is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Caladenia genus — compare its care with other Caladenia species on PlantoScan.
Caladenia is part of the Orchidaceae plant family — browse all Orchidaceae genera and species.
Caladenia tensa thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Caladenia Species
Other Caladenia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Caladenia tensa G.W.Carr, family Orchidaceae (first published in Indig. Fl. Fauna Assoc. Misc. Pap. 1: 15 (1991)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Caladenia tensa, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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