Dendorbium Orchids growing sideways in the pot

[Kizzy]

My Den. is growing sideways in the pot. Should I divide my plant and stand the stocks upright? I can't stake them up, they would break off. Thanks for your response. Kizzy

[Call_Me_Bob]

a picture might help

[Kizzy]

I don't know how to post a picture to this site.I will try it. Kizzy

[camille1585]

If you have trouble posting photos have a look at this link, it should give you all the information you need.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...chidboard.html

[RosieC]

Thanks Camille, I was just about to point to the same link.

I've sometimes repotted and adjusted them in the pot so that the newest canes are upright, letting the older ones lean.

I've not had Den's long enough to consider dividing them and it's something you only want to do on a large plant.

Oh and welcome to orchid board Kizzy

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

My Den. is growing sideways in the pot. Should I divide my plant and stand the stocks upright? I can't stake them up, they would break off. Thanks for your response. Kizzy

Hi Kizzy,

Dendrobiums will grow sideways in search of more light. Then, as the cane matures, it hardens and becomes fixed in it's sideways position. Under proper lighting conditions new (emerging) canes will have an upright growth habit. I have a few awkward looking plants myself. They were growing sideways due to substandard lighting and were switched to better lighting last summer. The transition resulted in more spikes and new upright growth but the old sideways growth is still there and takes up a lot of valuable space. I tried repositioning them in their pots but that didn't work out so good. The plants are happy so I plan to let the new growths mature and try dividing them next spring. A word of caution: Dendrobiums use older mature canes as a sources of energy. Removing them can cause severe set-backs. They also have a reputation for sulking after divisions and repots.

I believe these photos depict what you described. Notice the old (underlit) sideways growth compared the upright (better lit) younger cane growth. Better lighting = Better growth habit.

[Kizzy]

I believe they have enough light. They're sitting in popout garden window in my kitchen.

[WhiteRabbit]

some Dens have pendulous canes. Do you have a name for yours?

[Kizzy]

No they're not pendulous. It looks sort of like an artichoke that's opened. Only it's not circular. There's stems in the middle and then as it grows new shoots they start growing at an angle. The last stems are almost horizontal.

[Orchid126]

What type of dens are they? If the dried bloom spikes are at the tip of the canes, then they're den-phal type. But if the dried bloom stems are up and down the cane, they are nobile types. It sounds like the plants have been watered at a time they should have been drier and resting. Are you referring to keiki's (baby plantlets)?