Dendrobium Flowers look poor/ unhealthy

[BElanna Turner]

this is the first time since i bought it that it has bloomed. only the first one bloomed a few days ago and the petals are dull and curly. see pic. the tother buds dont look good at all and i dont think they will bloom.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

1. Your Dendrobium has a strong influence from several species of Dendrobium in the section Spatulata (aka Antelope Dendrobiums).

There's a reason why they're called "Antelope Dendrobiums". Their petals are naturally twisty and they sometimes stick straight up like antelope horns.

The dorsal (top) sepal are also normally twisty and can
curl back. Same goes for the lateral (side) sepals.

In other words...

I think the flower on your plant looks normal for its kind.

Maybe you can get some other opinions from other members and see what they have to say and think about this.

2. I don't see anything wrong with the buds.

Again, maybe others can say what they think.

3. Color changes in the flowers within it's normal color scheme can occur in an individual plant due to different environmental factors it's exposed to and it's genetics.

It's complicated, I don't understand it fully myself. Maybe somebody else can answer this issue for you better.

4. What kind of potting media are you using?

5. It looks like you've got some sort of weed growing with your Dendrobium.

[BElanna Turner]

that little weed is clover. the potting medium being used is a potting mix from miracle grow for orchids, and its been in that pot for at least five months. im at school now and its at home. i didnt know that the flowers curled. i had actually forgotten what color they were when i first bought it, but i think they were white. also, i might not be visible, but the buds' stalk that attached to the flower spike were yellowing. i had it outside last week and some nights got to the mid thirties. maybe thats why there yellow?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by BElanna Turner

that little weed is clover.

If you still want to grow that clover, I'd grow it separately.

Originally Posted by BElanna Turner

Also, it might not be visible, but the buds' stalk that attached to the flower spike were yellowing. i had it outside last week and some nights got to the mid thirties. maybe thats why there yellow?

Leaving the plant out when the temperatures got down into the 30's F is a very good reason why that's yellow.

It should never get below 60 F for this plant.

[BElanna Turner]

the clover just started to grow there. why? would it have a detreimental affect on the orchid? ant thanks a lot for the help!

[Becca]

I agree with the advice you have been given. But I'd like to add that the potting mix from miracle grow for orchids really isn't the best stuff to be using, especially for a dendrobium. I would say you run a 90% chance of rotting the roots in this stuff. It may say it is for orchids, but it really isn't. But if it has been it for 5 months, has it put out any new roots? If so then the new roots may adapt to the potting medium you have it in, but what I have always been told is that most dendrobiums prefer to grow on something and not in something, though that would proabably require more frequent waterings and new roots to adapt. If you need a recommendation on a good place to get potting medium, try rePotme Orchid Supplies - Orchid Mix - Orchid Pots - Orchid Care - Orchid Fertilizer, they have great quality products and customer service and I have never been disappointed!

[BElanna Turner]

actually it has put out a ton of new roots, and besides the flower buds seems really healthy

[Becca]

ok...well the new roots will most likely adapt to the potting medium. So as long as you don't over water with that potting medium it might be ok. And if it's been in it for 5 months then it sounds like you probably already have a handle on it and I'm just nagging you...lol.

[BElanna Turner]

Originally Posted by Becca

ok...well the new roots will most likely adapt to the potting medium. So as long as you don't over water with that potting medium it might be ok. And if it's been in it for 5 months then it sounds like you probably already have a handle on it and I'm just nagging you...lol.

no, no thats fine. i never water it myself actually. i just let the elements do it for me. so sometimes it goes a few weeks without water, so it gets a chance to totally dry out. the pic is from when i moved it inside during a really cold spell. most of the time its on the lanai

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The clover will out compete the orchid for nutrients, space, and light.