Dendrobium Detectives needed - what is it?

[Tami Bell]

I have two orchids I need help identifying what is on/growing on them.

First is a flourishing (but not flowering ) dendrobium (I think ) that has pin sized, black dots on some of the leaves. It seems to be doing well and giving me new growth but I'd like to know what the black stuff is.






The second is a very sickly looking dendrobium I am planning on repotting when my supplies get here, plastic pots, superthrive etc.

Looking at it this morning, I noticed something new growing I've never seen before and have no idea if it's good or not. It's a almost bright yellow stem with a rounded head that is bumpy. I hope the pics are clear enough to see what I'm talking about.







Thanks for looking and any help/advice.

[Royal]

Hey Tami, To answer your second question, that's not part of your Dend - that's a mushroom. You're right about needing to re-pot if mushrooms are sprouting up! The first set of pics look ok. Some spotting isn't cause for alarm, but in conjunction with the second set of pics it's telling. My guess is that your medium is staying too wet for both plants. The black spotting could be bacterial or fungal, or it could be the leaf is just starting to die and drop (which is normal for some Dends). That can be caused by staying too wet, too long. Let them dry more in between watering. Once repotted, they should dry off much more quickly. As the medium ages, it stays wet longer.

[Tami Bell]

mushroom?!?!?! Can I die from embarrassment now?????

Honestly, I've never felt a mushroom that hard before but I'm going to go pull it out now before a cat decides to eat it.....and replant as quickly as possible!!!

[Sandy4453]

I have a feeling also that these are staying too wet, Tami. You've definitely got fungal issues on that one plant growing a mushroom. I've had these problems in the past on some non-orchid plants, especially in summer. This leads me to believe your medium is staying too wet. You don't necessarily have to unpot/repot and can treat it with a flush of Physan 20 in your next watering and a good spray of anti-fungal systemic, easily found at Home Depot's and WalMart. Those little black spots should be sprayed also just for safe measure, to prevent any spreading.

Originally Posted by Tami Bell

mushroom?!?!?! Can I die from embarrassment now?????

...
Been there, done that...

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Tami Bell

mushroom?!?!?! Can I die from embarrassment now?????

Nothing to be embarrassed about. I've had em' too. Live and learn. It's just a good thing we all have the OB!

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Nothing to be embarrassed about. I've had em' too. Live and learn. It's just a good thing we all have the OB!

:iagree:

[Tami Bell]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

I have a feeling also that these are staying too wet, Tami. You've definitely got fungal issues on that one plant growing a mushroom. I've had these problems in the past on some non-orchid plants, especially in summer. This leads me to believe your medium is staying too wet. You don't necessarily have to unpot/repot and can treat it with a flush of Physan 20 in your next watering and a good spray of anti-fungal systemic, easily found at Home Depot's and WalMart. Those little black spots should be sprayed also just for safe measure, to prevent any spreading.

...
Been there, done that...

I have some anti-fungal for my bonsai's and just sprayed it on the black spots, but I've decided the few orchids I have left are getting re-potted in plastic.

I have them all in clay pots now and realizing the hard way I've been over-watering and not allowing for enough drainage plastic should help me learn what better what the medium should look like, feel like etc.

I may shock my plants doing this but at this point I think the few remaining ones have one leaf in deaths door and grasping for some help.

I'm SOOOOO glad I found this board
Thank you guys so much!!!

[Sandy4453]

One thing to consider Tami, especially with Dends is, the best time to do a re-pot is when they're growing. If you see a lot of root growth or other activity (more bulbs before roots), it's a good time to repot. You want those roots to start grabbing on to the new medium and the tighter the pot, the better. You want the medium to dry out and not slowly. I have all of my Dends. in plastic too, in fact all of my orchids are in plastic. They like getting bone dry before they get wet again. In winter, here in Fla., I typically water them every 10-14 days, depending on the weather. The dryer, the better!

[JennS]

Tami, keep in mind that with plastic pots you medium will not dry out as quickly as with the clay because the clay breathes, whereas plastic does not. However, once you replace the medium with new (remember to soak the medium for at least 8 hours) the new bark or whatever medium you are using, will dry out faster then old medium. So, you will have to closely monitor them in the first couple weeks to get used to their new drying time. You can use a pencil, bamboo skewer or wood chopstick to place down into the medium (near the edge to avoid the roots). It it comes out damp or darker then it was at first, you don't need to water yet. Good luck!

[Azul]

is not a mushroom?