Dendrobium speciosum need help to save it.

[Greenpots]

Hi all,

Today is last day of orchid show at Westminster mall. I got this Dendrobium speciosum but need helps to save it. Roots look green and healthy. but 1 of them is brown and soft. I'm thinking I'm loosing that one. Should I repot it or any suggestions to take care of it?

Thanks
Tony

[bil]

I really wouldn't worry about 1 root

My taste is always to repot when I buy, because in a pot like that you have no ideas what horrors may lurk below.

So if it looks reasonably well drained, I would wait until the flowers fall and then repot. As a general rule that's the best time.

I like putting them in larger diameter, 20- 25 cm diam, very shallow pot. That keeps the roots nicely aerated. I'd put it in fine bark, but sieve the bark to remove all fine particles and dust that might clog the airways.

The important thing is, not to panic. I have a couple of times bought orchids here and the whole damn root mass has fallen off when I took it out of the pot.

I simply planted it as tho it had roots, and two years on they are doing fine.

[Greenpots]

My taste is the same want to repot new orchids for couple reasons. I water it, It's well drain.

Sorry i forgot to mention this. Behind name tag, it shows "R 1/15". My guess is it was repotted 2yrs ago.
I think it's repotted time. I'm new so want to hear from you guys opnions.

I will put in bigger size pot but not sure it will need more vents for air. Also want to know if it has any disease that I don't know and need the attention right away.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Greenpots

My taste is the same want to repot new orchids for couple reasons. I water it, It's well drain.

Sorry i forgot to mention this. Behind name tag, it shows "R 1/15". My guess is it was repotted 2yrs ago.
I think it's repotted time. I'm new so want to hear from you guys opnions.

I will put in bigger size pot but not sure it will need more vents for air. Also want to know if it has any disease that I don't know and need the attention right away.

Well, I would repot as soon as the flowers have gone. If you put it into a shallow pot, then you don't need t worry about air vents. I used to have my thin rooted orchids in pots that were only 2 or 3 inches deep.

As for disease, unless there is something clearly visible, I wouldn't get too paranoid. You can of course quarantine it but few people have the luxury of a separate quarantine area.

[Greenpots]

Thank you Bil

[Greenpots]

I am thinking to repot it this weekend because roots already come out at the bottom.

Is there anyone in Orange County SoCal can give some tips? I appreciate it.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Greenpots

I am thinking to repot it this weekend because roots already come out at the bottom.

Is there anyone in Orange County SoCal can give some tips? I appreciate it.

Wide pot enough for plenty of growth, (those roots go some distance) plus stability. Use fine bark, but sieve it carefully to get all fine particles and dust out.

Keep it shallow. 3-4 inches deep isn't too shallow.

Soak the root ball for an hour or so first and carefully comb as much muck out as you can before repotting.

Use three rocks to hold it upright till the roots grow, and Robert is truly your father's brother.

[estación seca]

My mom and my niece between them grow D. speciosum, D. kingianum and D. xdelicatum in Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel. Theirs are of a smaller stemmed strain than yours. They are in small bark, and they leave them out all winter, exposed to rain. My mom's is in dappled shade under evergreen pears (Pyrus kawakamii, in full bloom right now in California and here in Phoenix.) My niece's is on a patio that gets afternoon sun.

By the looks of your plant, the seller probably grew it outside exposed to the elements, with very little shade. It is a very hardy specimen and should do fine if you leave it outside. I might consider protecting it from the downpours you're expecting this weekend by moving it under a covering, but leaving it outside exposed to ambient temperatures. I would definitely not repot now due to the flower spike. I would not ever regard a root coming out of the drain hole as a reason to repot any orchid; however, the bark on that plant is getting old, so I would repot after the flowers have finished, and when the plant is beginning new growth and new roots from the base of the growth.

For what it's worth, I have a D. kingianum 'Roy', which is a large-stemmed plant similar in size to yours. It has been outside all winter, getting full sun and rain, except for nights when frost threatened. I thought it could probably take our light frost, but I haven't propagated it yet, so it's my only plant. Mine is making 2 new growths now.

[Greenpots]

Where do you buy fine/small bark? I couldn't find it at HD or Lowes.
has anyone used Garden bark and break it down??

[bil]

Originally Posted by Greenpots

Where do you buy fine/small bark? I couldn't find it at HD or Lowes.
has anyone used Garden bark and break it down??

That would be a lot of work. Have a look round, try online sites, but do sieve it well. Some fine bark is 50% dust and garbage that stops the air flowing thru.