Sphag & Bag Questions

[scy]

I accidentally broke the small cane during repotting of the larger dendrobium hollywood. I sphaged and bagged it on Dec. 1st. The shriveled new mini cane that is forming was there when it originally broke.

6 days later, a small nub started to form so I waited a while to see what would come of it. I opened the bag every day for a few minutes to let it get some fresh air and check for mold. When there was mold, I rinsed it off and put it back inside the bag. I did soak it in Physan prior to putting it in the bag. Since the 6 days, the only change was the nub got a little larger and turned from white to green.

Here's what it looks like now. When can I take it out of the bag? What do I do next?

[quiltergal]

The nubbin is the beginnings of a new cane. What I would do is invest in some good quality sphag moss. I'd put some damp moss in a shallow container and lay the cane horizontally in the moss. Then I'd put the whole container in a plastic bag, but leave it open. It will raise the humidity in the bag enough to keep the cane from dessicating but not so humid that it rots. You may see some new Keiki's form at each leaf node. Ultimately you need to wait for the new cane to start growing roots before it can survive on it's own. The rule of thumb 4" of total root (4 1"roots, 2 2" roots, 1 4"root....you get the idea) before it can support itself. More is better.

For now, you wait for roots. Good luck!

[scy]

Thanks for the advice! I had no idea that the green nub is the beginning of a new cane. I thought it was a root! How can you tell? Is it safe to assume that the smaller wrinkled cane is gone or could it recover much later down the road?

[RosieC]

I would leave the old cane, it may still have energy reserves which can be used to help grow the new cane. The more old canes you have the better, even if they look wrinkled they could still help give energy until roots grow.

As for how you can tell the new bit is a cane... well I'm not sure, one of those things you recognise after seeing a few.

I think roots on this will be thinner. That looks more like the thickness of a Phal root and Dens have thinner roots.

Also the shape of the tip is too pointed for a root, looks more like new growth with that point.

[scy]

Thank you! I'm so excited and can't wait to see what happens next.