need Dendrobium help, please - Orchid Board

VickiC · #1 03-03-2009, 06:08 PM

Hi,
A few months ago, I asked for advice about my den. that I thought might have a fungus. After I gathered suggestions, I unpotted it to do a Physan20 soak, but saw that I had watered too much and the roots were almost all rotten. I then trimmed away the rotten roots and treated the areas with cinnamon. This left only the few newest ones (which were starting to grow nicely before I unpotted the plant, by the way). Anyway, I then did the Physan20 soak and repotted. Earlier this afternoon I was dusting and accidentally hit the pot and the plant fell over. After it overturned, I saw that there has been no re-rooting, plus the newest roots didn't look well anymore. (pics attached)

Since the orchid most likely did have a fungus (which may or may not be gone), do you think it would be a lost cause to try to save it since it is almost rootless, as well? If you think there is hope, what should I do to try to help it?

I would appreciate any advice,
Vicki

Ethan · #2 03-03-2009, 06:47 PM

There's still a lot of green there so I wouldn't pitch it. My dends that have been dormant for quite a while have JUST started growing new roots since we are getting more sunny days in NE Ohio and warmer temps...

In my opinion, the overall plant (disregarding lack of roots) looks too healthy to give up just yet. Remember, orchids have a will to survive...that's how they have lived for millions of years. I would give it PLENTY of air circulation, warm temps, more light, and high humidity and see if it starts growing some new roots.

D&S Mabel · #3 03-03-2009, 06:53 PM

The plant still looks good to me. A couple thoughts:

Cinnamon works great on plant wounds, like if you cut or break a piece off of the plant itself. From what I've read, its not good for use of roots as it will dry them out.

I think others will suggest the sphag-in-a-bag method of trying to get it to root. If it were mine, given my outdoor growing conditions, I have better luck just laying them out in a bright but shady location, unpotted, and spritzing them every couple days with water until they start putting out new growth and with it, new roots.

Good luck!

VickiC · #4 03-03-2009, 10:53 PM

Thanks Ethan.....I won't give up yet!
Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethan

There's still a lot of green there so I wouldn't pitch it. My dends that have been dormant for quite a while have JUST started growing new roots since we are getting more sunny days in NE Ohio and warmer temps...

In my opinion, the overall plant (disregarding lack of roots) looks too healthy to give up just yet. Remember, orchids have a will to survive...that's how they have lived for millions of years. I would give it PLENTY of air circulation, warm temps, more light, and high humidity and see if it starts growing some new roots.

VickiC · #5 03-03-2009, 11:16 PM

Hi,
What do you suggest using to treat after trimming roots rather than cinnamon.....Physan20? I've read of others who use Listerine, some use peroxide.....etc., but I've never tried any of these. Your thoughts on what to use as a fungicide?

As for sphag-n-bag, the only way that I can think to do that with this den. is to put it in a clear-ish plastic "storage box". I would appreciate any other suggestions....and of course, from other members, too.

Thanks for your reply,
Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by D&S Mabel

The plant still looks good to me. A couple thoughts:

Cinnamon works great on plant wounds, like if you cut or break a piece off of the plant itself. From what I've read, its not good for use of roots as it will dry them out.

I think others will suggest the sphag-in-a-bag method of trying to get it to root. If it were mine, given my outdoor growing conditions, I have better luck just laying them out in a bright but shady location, unpotted, and spritzing them every couple days with water until they start putting out new growth and with it, new roots.

Good luck!

Becky15349 · #6 03-03-2009, 11:42 PM

This plant just need some warm temps and some light...give it time. Plants react to warmer spring temperatures and start throwing roots, you'd be surprised!!

Sandy4453 · #7 03-04-2009, 07:33 AM

Vicki, your Dend looks fine. Although dark spotting is not what we want to see, it's not at all uncommon, especially on Dends in hot weather that don't have a lot of air movement. Humidity brings on fungal issues and should always be looked after during the summer and treated for prevention, let alone when it appears.

Dends should only be repotted during their growing season, not when resting. When they begin to grow new psbulbs is when new roots will follow. This is when you want to re-pot your Dend. These can get top heavy and you want the roots to begin to adjust themselves to the medium and anchor themselves for stability. With this said though, you still have a viable looking plant that will still grow....come springtime, when the weather starts warming up. Spring is when Dends come out of their semi-hibernating states and begin taking off. Pot it back up in the medium you're using and keep it very dry for the next few weeks. Don't water!!!!! Give it less light than usual and slowly introduce more light as you begin seeing new growth and then, start watering regularly.

This Dend. looks to be just fine.

VickiC · #8 03-04-2009, 09:13 AM

Hi Becky,
Ok, so I'll just repot it, put it back in it's regular home (on a table in front of an east window) and sit tight.....looking forward to new roots later.
Thanks for your help,
Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becky15349

This plant just need some warm temps and some light...give it time. Plants react to warmer spring temperatures and start throwing roots, you'd be surprised!!

VickiC · #9 03-04-2009, 09:59 AM

Hi Sandy,
I'm glad to know that the dark spotting is not necessarily uncommon, so I won't worry about it. Since that's the case, in the future I'm going to assume if a dark spot on a cane is not mushy, it is most likely not infected with a fungus. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, I see now that I shouldn't have unpotted and disturbed it when I thought I should treat it with Physan20 for fungus. As you know, though, "hindsight is 20/20.....you live, you learn".

I may have misunderstood in the past because I didn't think there is a resting period for den phals. ?? If so, I didn't do the right thing this past winter.....I watered and fertilized it as usual all winter. Also, when you mention new pseudobulbs, I assume you are referring to the canes. ??

After I repot it, should I hold off watering and keep it dry for awhile as you said even though there are practically no roots?

As for anchoring it stable, I know I'm gonna have quite a job.....keeping the plant from wobbling around with no roots on my side to help stabilize it at all. Even so, I'll figure something out and deal with it....maybe repot it in a basket so that I can tie off from the corners made for hanging.

Thanks for your help,
Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

Vicki, your Dend looks fine. Although dark spotting is not what we want to see, it's not at all uncommon, especially on Dends in hot weather that don't have a lot of air movement. Humidity brings on fungal issues and should always be looked after during the summer and treated for prevention, let alone when it appears.

Dends should only be repotted during their growing season, not when resting. When they begin to grow new psbulbs is when new roots will follow. This is when you want to re-pot your Dend. These can get top heavy and you want the roots to begin to adjust themselves to the medium and anchor themselves for stability. With this said though, you still have a viable looking plant that will still grow....come springtime, when the weather starts warming up. Spring is when Dends come out of their semi-hibernating states and begin taking off. Pot it back up in the medium you're using and keep it very dry for the next few weeks. Don't water!!!!! Give it less light than usual and slowly introduce more light as you begin seeing new growth and then, start watering regularly.

This Dend. looks to be just fine.

Ethan · #10 03-04-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VickiC

Hi Sandy,
I'm glad to know that the dark spotting is not necessarily uncommon, so I won't worry about it. Since that's the case, in the future I'm going to assume if a dark spot on a cane is not mushy, it is most likely not infected with a fungus. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, I see now that I shouldn't have unpotted and disturbed it when I thought I should treat it with Physan20 for fungus. As you know, though, "hindsight is 20/20.....you live, you learn".

I may have misunderstood in the past because I didn't think there is a resting period for den phals. ?? If so, I didn't do the right thing this past winter.....I watered and fertilized it as usual all winter. Also, when you mention new pseudobulbs, I assume you are referring to the canes. ??

After I repot it, should I hold off watering and keep it dry for awhile as you said even though there are practically no roots?

As for anchoring it stable, I know I'm gonna have quite a job.....keeping the plant from wobbling around with no roots on my side to help stabilize it at all. Even so, I'll figure something out and deal with it....maybe repot it in a basket so that I can tie off from the corners made for hanging.

Thanks for your help,
Vicki

Hi, Vicki -

As far as a resting period for den. phals, I have heard the same that there isn't one, but in my experience with den phals, for a couple months out of the year they do stop growing roots and p-bulbs kind of like phals and catts. I don't think they go completely dormant, they just slow waaay down.

As for the pseudobulbs, my understanding is that dendrobium's canes ARE pseudobulbs, they are just elongated pseudobulbs. They serve the same function of a water storage unit for the plant during dry spells. They are just usually referred to as 'canes' because they are so elongated.

Sandy gave you some good advice. If you repot, you are going to have a hard time keeping it stable since it is so top-heavy and not roots to hold it down. Maybe lay it on top of some potting medium that is not wet?? The important thing is to keep the humidity up and air circulation high if possible. You might try some rooting hormone. I don't know any product names of the top of my head, but if you do a forum search, I know there are several threads on here about it.