Dendrobium spectabile roots

[idreamoforchids]

Hello folks,

I've had a dendrobium spectabile for about a year, and now my orchid is growing a number of fresh green roots, as in the attached photo. I'm very excited about this, but I'm also worried about the roots being exposed. Should I be repotting the plant and covering up the new roots? Thanks for any advice you can provide.

Jessica

[Ray]

That is perfectly normal. They will grow down into the medium on their own.

[estación seca]

If you're growing inside a home, with lower humidity than in a greenhouse, I might suggest repotting now to a medium with smaller particle sizes. Dendrobiums don't do well if they dry out during the growing season. You would need to water a Den. in that large bark almost every day during the growing season.

Another alternative would be a layer of sphagnum moss on top of that bark. Make sure the moss stays moist now that growth has begun.

[MCD]

Just curious, did you get this from Manu? I've had one since November; to my not so expert eye it looks like you should water more often and keep the chunky mix more moist. I have another large Latouria den in a fairly chunky (mostly orchiata) mix, and when it's pushing out new growths it is a challenge to give it enough water.

[idreamoforchids]

Thanks so much for your replies! I just put a layer of sphagnum moss on top of the bark, until I have the opportunity to repot it. On that topic, I had tried some new Orchiata mix with the Den in the early Fall, and I found that it dried out more than with the mix I have now -- fir bark, spagnum, and clay beads. But maybe I hadn't soaked the Orchiata mix adequately. So I can try this again, or perhaps use smaller pieces of fir. Also, I noticed that the new roots started growing very quickly once I put the plant under a full-spectrum (5000k) light. My Den seems to love it, but I expect that it also means that keeping it well watered will be more important than ever. As for my fellow Canadian's question about Manu's, I bought my orchid at a show in Alberta last spring. But it was a different vendor. I'll have to check out Manu's!

[estación seca]

I suggest either repotting right now, today, or waiting until the next time the plant makes roots. When they're much longer than what is shown in your photo they will be damaged in repotting. This will almost certainly set back the plant and cause it to grow poorly for a while.

Many orchids only make new roots in periodic flushes. It is best to wait to repot until the roots are just beginning. Some bifoliate Cattleyas do not make roots until the new growth has matured. If you repot them at the wrong time the plant will frequently die. Dendrobiums are so water thirsty when making new growth I likewise would not repot them at the wrong time, even if the medium is bad. Other people have different opinions.

[idreamoforchids]

Estacion seca, I really appreciate the advice to repot my Den right away. I just did so, in a medium with smaller bits and pieces, plus a bit more sphagnum....Fingers crossed that this plant continues to thrive. When/if it finally flowers, I'm definitely going to celebrate!