Dendrobiums-when to throw the towel in?

[kp53]

Dends and I are not friends-I have a couple of plants that have lost all their leaves, roots look OK, how long should I hold on to them, waiting for something to happen? They are not very pretty plants.
Thanks.

[betwixtimes]

Some Dens loose all their leaves---and the bare canes are somewhat unattractive, but it doesn't mean that the orchid is done for...

How long have you had the Den, what sort is it? Could you tell us more about it?

[unhappykat]

you never know
some dens can take months and even years to finally get over being grumpy and finally grow.
you might have to hold on to them until they are black and shriveled away.

[betwixtimes]

Is it a Nobile Den? The flower spikes from the side of the cane and not the center---

[whygreenberg]

kp...it does sound to me like maybe you've got nobile Dens or at least one of the deciduous varieties. if this is the case, the canes will be bare like that as it takes it's winter rest. do you have their names? more info would be great. but i doubt you are on your way to losing them.

[unhappykat]

do you have any pictures of the actual plants, its a bit early for nobiles to be loosing leaves.

[whygreenberg]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

do you have any pictures of the actual plants, its a bit early for nobiles to be loosing leaves.

kat...that could depend on where you're at. my Den. Pixie Charm, a unicum hybrid, has already started dropping leaves.

and unicum and it's relatives look real ugly and dead in the winter. just the way they are.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by whygreenberg

kat...that could depend on where you're at. my Den. Pixie Charm, a unicum hybrid, has already started dropping leaves.

and unicum and it's relatives look real ugly and dead in the winter. just the way they are.

One of my anosmums has starting yellowing and dropping leaves (it's on cork) the other one still looks green. The senile hasn't started yet either. But you are totally correct Yvan - it does relate both to where a grower lives, but also the growing conditions. If the nobile types are grown a bit on the dry side, I think they go dormant earlier. If the growing conditions are on the cool side (as most northern areas are right now) then they will also start dormany earlier. I think it was Mauro that said he keeps watering his but they get a colder temperature. They don't drop leaves but still bloom. Mine are a bit warmer, perhaps, being in the house (heated during the winter) but very dry. Without pictures, it's hard to do anything but speculate.