Evergreen dendrobium losing leaves

[Mothra79]

I have a dendrobium phalaenopsis which I believed was an evergreen dendrobium. It lost one of the two leaves on its smallest, oldest cane awhile back, and now it looks like the second leaf is going too. I was under the impression that evergreen dendrobiums did not lose their leaves?

[Serge]

It is may be a Everyellow dendrobium like one of mine.

[Snowden]

No, that's not true. The older canes will eventually lose its leaves - though it may take a few years before they drop - and you will end up with leafless canes.

The difference between deciduous and evergreen dens are that the deciduous ones, for example, will put out new growth with leaves and then towards the end of the new growth's maturity (usually towards the end of its resting period), it will drop all of its leaves. Think of it as a tree. It leafs out during the spring, grows during the summer, then drops all its leaves in the winter.

Evergreen dens do not do this. They hold onto their leaves throughout the year, but, again, older canes will drop leaves. It's a slow and gradual process.

[Mothra79]

That makes sense. Thank you for the information and for easing my worries!