Den. Kingianum dropping leaves - Orchid Board

Raqsharqi · #1 07-08-2015, 12:59 PM

I bought this den. Kingianum a year ago on ebay. I got one speiki out of it in the spring, with a few flowers. It grew one pseudobulb. Now the leaves are turning brown and falling off, but there us new growth on the base of the largest pseudobulb. I had planted it in a larger pot, because there were roots growing out the sides of the original pot. When i pulled the plant out if the pot yesterday to check the roots, I found some dead ones, and the media seemed too wet. I'm thinking I overpotted the thing, so i trimmed the bad roots and put it back into a smaller pot with a bark, leca, sphag, stone mix. Any suggestions/ideas? This is supposed to be easy to grow, and I thought it needed Catt light and lots of water in summer, and lower temps with a winter rest. Too much water? Too much light?

Cym Ladye · #2 07-09-2015, 01:51 PM

It appears as if the roots are drying out. I would suggest a finer mix which would hold water longer. I never dry mine out as they live outside in Northern Ca all year long, rain or shine.

Raqsharqi · #3 07-09-2015, 02:43 PM

It wasn't dried out. I just put it in a smaller pot to try to DRY it out. I had sphagnum moss next to the roots, and I think the roots got too wet. No one has ever accused me of underwatering! ;-)

Cntry · #4 07-09-2015, 03:15 PM

Here is a care sheet on this orchid... I just purchased one recently also.

Dendrobium kingianum is a cool-growing lithophytic orchid from Eastern Australia, where it is also known as the “pink rock lily”.

Where to Grow
In a greenhouse, conservatory or indoors, in a sunny position. From April to October, D kingianum may be grown outdoors.

Temperature
Very tolerant. Ideally, up to 25 degrees C in summer, not below 5 degrees C in winter.

Humidity
To increase humidity, stand the plant in a pebble tray, ensuring the pot is clear of the water. Alternatively, group humidity loving plants (for example, other orchids and ferns) together. An occasional misting may also help.

Watering
In spring and summer, water as the compost starts to dry out. In winter, reduce watering, just enough to keep the canes from shrivelling. When in doubt, don’t water.

Apply tepid or lukewarm water liberally to the compost, making sure it is soaked. Then repeat. Allow excess water to drain from the pot before returning to position (tilting the pot often helps).

For best results, water early in the day using rainwater where possible.

Feeding
A balanced feed at half the recommended strength for houseplants, applied every other or every third watering during the growing season is beneficial (less in winter).

Rest Period
A cool, dry rest in winter is beneficial to the health of the plant, and also assists flowering.

Flowers
Small fragrant blooms, from white to pink to mauve, lasting several weeks.

Repotting
Repot every 1-2 years, using a bark

erlite mix, in a pot just big enough to hold the roots, leaving room for another season’s growth.

Notes
Orchids are generally slow growers, and may take several years to reach flowering size.

Keikis (baby plants) may sometimes be produced on the canes. These may be detached and potted up when roots appear.

I hope this helps.

Raqsharqi · #5 07-09-2015, 03:27 PM

Mine is grown in a greenhouse, gets watered at least every couple of days because of the heat, gets misted and fed, is allowed to experience a temperature drop and a dry winter rest. It was doing fine, and then the leaves got crispy and brown on just a couple of the psuedobulbs. The one that's left has two new growths on the bottom. I got the plant last year, and it was small. I repotted it this year, thinking it needed more room. When I checked the roots, the bark was much wetter than I think it should have been, which makes me think I over potted it, and the roots couldn't handle the amount of moisture in the planting media. I put it back in the smaller pot with quick draining stuff this time, knowing that I am heavy handed with water. It is hot here, so I water more often than most folks. I have to work to keep the greenhouse in the 95 degree range. My orchids only get rain water and are hand watered.

wintergirl · #6 07-09-2015, 03:50 PM

I like to use clay pots for orchids I worry about getting too wet. My larger dendrobium does really well in a clay pot.

Joseia · #7 07-09-2015, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raqsharqi

Mine is grown in a greenhouse, gets watered at least every couple of days because of the heat, gets misted and fed, is allowed to experience a temperature drop and a dry winter rest. It was doing fine, and then the leaves got crispy and brown on just a couple of the psuedobulbs. The one that's left has two new growths on the bottom. I got the plant last year, and it was small. I repotted it this year, thinking it needed more room. When I checked the roots, the bark was much wetter than I think it should have been, which makes me think I over potted it, and the roots couldn't handle the amount of moisture in the planting media. I put it back in the smaller pot with quick draining stuff this time, knowing that I am heavy handed with water. It is hot here, so I water more often than most folks. I have to work to keep the greenhouse in the 95 degree range. My orchids only get rain water and are hand watered.

I lived in Tucson for a few years, it must be incredibly difficult to keep the temps in there under 95. I imagine you can use a swamp cooler when the humidity is low, which is most of the year. But how do you keep it cool during the more humid months of July and August during the monsoon season?

Raqsharqi · #8 07-09-2015, 07:42 PM

Joseia, it isn't easy. The swamp cooler worked much better before the rains came. We upped the amount of misting that went on, and I wondered if THAT was the problem. If I don't mist several times from noon to 3:00pm, it can get really hot, really fast...especially if it is a sunny day.
Some plants don't like getting their leaves wet, and I wondered if perhaps that was causing the problem. I had an agraecum crisp up for that reason. I don't know what this kingianum is trying to tell me. I know for certain that it would more likely have been over watered than under. Wet leaves? Too much light? I don't think high temps bother it. Do the pseudobulbs on this orchid periodically die back?

Cym Ladye · #9 07-11-2015, 04:57 PM

When orchids lose leaves, it is usually too much water or too little. You seem to have determined too much in your case with over potting. I think the biggest challenge is your heat and your fight to keep the humidity up.

However, Kingianums are really tough orchids and they will lose growths from time to time. The canes rebloom and after several years of reblooming, they die back and send out new canes from the base. Yours may be just undergoing a natural reaction to time, new cultural conditions and stress.