Please Help!!!!!! - Orchid Board

PURESNOWCHIC · #1 03-18-2006, 05:11 PM

I have a dendrobium that I bought a few months ago and now all the leaves from the bottom up are turning brownish/yellow and falling off!!! It has the same water and food as my phalenopsis that is thriving, and I give it more light... The only things I can think of are; not enough light, too much or too little water... Please help I don't want it to die!!!!!!!!!!

THANS!!! Cari

Sandra Billeter · #2 03-23-2006, 02:37 PM

There are 2 basic types of Dens, those that flower from the cane (stem) with 2 or 3 flowers in a group (nobile types) and those that have long inflorescenses with many flowers on them (phalenopsis types). The nobile types will often bloom on old, leafless canes and they will drop their leaves over the winter. Usually they will also start a new growth during or soon after leaf drop. I would suspect that you have a nobile type and that this is just it's normal growth pattern. You should give it the same type of care as your phal until the fall. Then it will need a "cool down" period of several weeks with a lot less water. We put ours out on our screened porch in late Sept and leave them there until the night temps get to 55. We give very little water during these weeks - just spritz the plant occasionally. When the buds start to show, we start watering again. Of our 3, one has finished blooming and the other 2 are still in bloom. Hope this helps.

Sandra in South Carolina

PURESNOWCHIC · #3 03-29-2006, 02:32 PM

Hi,

Again, thanks for responding! I believe the one I have is the phalenopsis type... it has many, many flowers on one stalk coming from the top of the cane... However since the last leaf fell, no more have turned any colors; there is about 4 or 5 leaves left total on the top of my 3 canes, and it still has flowers... Since no more leaves have fallen off I think it's doing ok, I did move it to an area that has more light- from a west window to an east window... so hopefully it will like it there... What substrate is best for these guys coarse or medium bark? Thanks!!!

Cari

Sandra Billeter · #4 03-29-2006, 04:35 PM

We use medium bark because it is easier to have just one type. We mix coarse perlite (the chunks are about 1/4 inch) and medium charcoal into it. We use about 3 parts bark to one each of perlite and charcoal.

We also have started using slotted plastic baskets as pots and expanded clay balls as the only medium. It is working really well on most that we have tried in it. The slotted baskets and clay balls make it easier for the roots to breathe but they require more frequent watering. Also we hang these in our GH and the roots grow out into the air in great profusion. Either method works so just develop a system that works for you.

Sandra in South Carolina

PURESNOWCHIC · #5 03-29-2006, 10:18 PM

Yep mines a phalenopsis type dendrobium!!! I was using coarse bark, but I just repotted to meduim... its nicer to work with too!!! My house is VERY dry so I thought the meduim would help hold moisture a little bit better... but right now I have 3 orchids - 2 phalanopsis and 1 phal. type dendrobium... so far everyone is doing good, one phal. is about to bloom again, but I think I planted it too high as the leaves started to shrivel.... ??? I repotted it lower, so I hope it will be better now... =)

Thanks for all the help!!!! Cari

Paphman910 · #6 04-13-2006, 08:31 PM

Please refer to this site:
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/recreation...endrobium.html

Paphman910