Is this Mold?

[Mevv]

Back again with a question about this Den. This is my first orchid so I'm not sure if it should be looking like this or if it's some kind of mold. Since it's coming to September and some of it's leaves have fallen off I read it is time to decrease waterings. But as I did I noticed that it looked whiter than normal. is this normal? or is it mold?

I heard using peroxide for mold and sterilizing and repotting helps but I want to know if this is mold or not.

[RosieC]

The pic is not very clear, but it sort of looks like it may be mineral buildup from the water/fertiliser.

I'm no expert though so hopefully someone else will have more idea.

[orchidsamore]

If you are concerned about the white on the canes wipe it with a little alcohol or peroxide. If there is live growth it will remove it and if it is not it will not harm the plant. I doubt it is mold, but treating it will not harm anything.

There is a bigger problem in that you have almost no good roots. I can say this without seeing the roots from its growth pattern.

The pot is too big for the plant. It should have been left in a 2 inch pot.

This time of year you should be seeing new green tipped roots and a new cane emerging. Neither is happening on your plant. Your plant is just not growing.

Do not over do the reduction of water. 20-25% less than summer is about right. When you water, soak the plant heavily and then let drain. You may not have been watering long enough when you watered. The three old canes without leaves look shriveled. This is normal if there was new growth, but you do not have the new growth.

Unless this is a miniature Dendrobium you should have a new can about 8-10 inches in its second year of growth. Dens grow very fast and should flower at about 18 months old.

How long have you owned the plant. It may have been damaged before you got it.

[Mevv]

I purchased this Den around mid June. And since getting it the little guy has had nothing but problems, not suprised it is stunted in growth. It came with two yellow and dead canes, which I removed and one rotten root. A few days after recieving it two of it's leaves turned yellow and fell off.

After that I found out that the potting mix purchased from Miracle gro was too much like soil and had to repot it again. Since then I haven't seen any root groth but the ones I do see are white. And it does have one new cane growing in the back of the plant, the images don't show it all that well.

With all these problems I have had with it I assumed the worse that it could have mold.

also wondering if I should be watering it more since it is a seedling? I've been watering it about every 5 days and spraying it every other day with a humidity tray underneath it.

[OzPhal]

Would it be worth putting some spaghnum moss in the mixture or potting it in pure spaghnum moss for a period to keep the moisture up to it? It certainly looks like it has had a hard life to date

[RosieC]

If you have been spraying it I would be even more inclined to think that the white may be mineral residue from the spray water.

I agree with jerry that from the pic it does not look a healthy den, but if you have a new shoot that sounds hopeful. A new shoot should put out new roots as it gets bigger.

The bark looks very dry so watering more often may be a good thing, but I'm still not sure I'm watering my single Den right so I'm not sure.

[orchidsamore]

A plant like this should not have been sold (I take that back if it was a gift)

They will often recover but can take a long time. I have had some take 2 years after being damaged.

Once you have a new cane growth will become more regular.

Your watering is not bad the damage was from before you got it.

[stefpix]

I rescued 4 Dendrobiums from Lowes. One had canes that shriveled and leaves dropped but at the same time a cane started growing fast. All the Dendrobiums show new green root growth.
When I water them I let them soak in a saucer for 5 to 15 minutes otherwise the bark does not seem to really absorb the water.

Anyway I agree with the Miracle Grow orchid mix - it should not be called that way. Maybe it is good for ground orchids like Bletillas.

I would try water culture in a vase.
I am trying it on a Lowes Phal i bought for a buck - seems to work.

There are many threads here. I think you have more chances that way because if that Den has bad or no roots it may be hard to water enough without causing rot.

Just keep it in the water - maybe put some rooting hormone on the base. Are there any eyes that show possible new roots or canes?

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...r-culture.html

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ooms-buds.html

stefano