Dendrobium Kingianum - dead or alive?

[qbie]

I haven't been able to find anywhere that dendrobium kingianum is completely deciduous, but one division I made last summer ended up dropping all its leaves this spring. If the canes are not brown/dried up/shriveled but still green, could it still sprout a new cane? Or is it done for because there are no leaves to photosynthesize? Thanks.

[estación seca]

Don't give up. Yes, leafless stems can make new growths if the base is still alive. The plant might still flower next Spring.

[Roberta]

I never consider a Dendrobium "dead" until it has stayed dead for a year - a full growth cycle (and even then, if there is green, it's just waiting for the right conditiosn). If those leafless canes are green (or may even be reddish depending on the specific plant, and amount of color) they definitely can produce new growth.

[qbie]

Another division I made last summer just dropped all its leaves today too. Trying to unpot them, they have new/live roots, so they're still very much alive as you both said.

Last summer I was trying some pots with different kinds of media that I have never used before, and I think those may have been too dry.

Thank you both. It's nice to find that dendrobium kingianum is actually quite hardy.

[Roberta]

They do need to be watered well during the growth phase. Pot them up and then don't mess with them, just keep watered, they are light feeders. And tough as nails.

[qbie]

Thanks E.S. and Roberta. Approx 4 months after repotting and leaving them alone, one of these has sprouted 2 new canes.