My Den Needs Help!! - Orchid Board

Phal-gal · #1 06-20-2008, 07:21 PM

I received this Dendrobium in this condition and do not know how to go about reviving it. I am fairly good with Phals, but am lost with any other type of orchid since I am a newbie. Are the orange stalks dying? Should I cut them off? They still have new leaves coming on. Are the roots bad?

Please, help my Den!!

This is old Ben
my sickly Den
share what you know
to get him to grow!
We will appreciate
your helping us propagate!

unhappykat · #2 06-20-2008, 07:51 PM

It looks like it has been out of a pot for a while. You may want to clean off any loose leaf sheaths as well as any dead leavs still present then pot it into a small plastic pot with sphagnum or fine bark then balance it using a heavier clay pot. Water lightly for a few weeks as it adjusts to your conditions. When newgrowth is pesent you may place it in a brighter situation than your Phals.

Phal-gal · #3 06-20-2008, 08:15 PM

Thank you, Unhappy Cat! I will try that! I just took it out of a plastic pt with fine bark and a sphag ball around its root area for the pictures, and put it back in sme fresh sphag. Maybe it just nees some time?

Phal-gal · #4 06-23-2008, 01:46 AM

Are the orange lower parts of the stems dead?

unhappykat · #5 06-23-2008, 01:52 AM

Possibly it may be wiser to cut them off if they are soft and flexible but hold on to them by sicking them in a pot of fine bark until they turn completely orange. Sometimes the tips will send out a last chance spike of flowers or even a keiki that you can pot up as a new plant.

unhappykat · #6 06-23-2008, 01:53 AM

Possibly it may be wiser to cut them off if they are soft and flexible but hold on to them by sicking them in a pot of fine bark until they turn completely orange. Sometimes the tips will send out a last chance spike of flowers or even a keiki that you can pot up as a new plant.

John · #7 06-23-2008, 02:24 PM

Maybe I missed something but where are the roots? I think that if the yellow parts of the canes are soft, that would indicate rot and you may want to remove them so it doesn't travel to the others. At the least, dust the root area with cinnamon and keep on the dry side until new roots start to grow. Maybe someone else could offer an opinion. Might be a candidate for the sphag and bag method.
John