Dendrobium keiki not developing

[Irisha99]

Hi, guys.
So, my dendrobium produced 4 keikis but they don’t seem to be developing much anymore. The temperatures ranges from about 70 to 80F. Humidity is in the 50-60s. I water it every 4-5 days or so, it’s growing in bark and I got some sphagnum moss on top. I add about 1/4 the recommended dose of fertilizer (20-10-20) every 2 weeks. However, the keikis seem to have stopped growing/developing. One of the canes browned because I think I overdid it with the moisture level ( I put a bag over the top and the cane started browning). Is there a way to make keikis grow? Or should I save the mother plant? Thanks for your help

[Roberta]

Concentrate on the mother plant. Leave the keikis attached - they are also capable of blooming, making a better display than the mother plant alone. You are much better off with one big, robust plant (keikis and all) than a bunch of little weak ones.

[Irisha99]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Concentrate on the mother plant. Leave the keikis attached - they are also capable of blooming, making a better display than the mother plant alone. You are much better off with one big, robust plant (keikis and all) than a bunch of little weak ones.

The mother plant is getting soft. I am thinking keikis are draining it? Or is it going to be ok? Thanks !

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Irisha99

The mother plant is getting soft. I am thinking keikis are draining it? Or is it going to be ok? Thanks !

The keikis aren't draining it, unless the mother plant has other issues. If the roots are bad, the keikis are its attempt to survive. Leave them in place - if the mother plant is on its way out, the keikis will use it as a source of energy and nutrients - and hopefully, will absorb enough that they can survive on their own eventually when the mother plant gives up. If you remove the keikis now, you won't save the mother plant if it is already fading and will have weak keikis that probably won't survive either. Let Mother Nature run her course.

[Irisha99]

Originally Posted by Roberta

The keikis aren't draining it, unless the mother plant has other issues. If the roots are bad, the keikis are its attempt to survive. Leave them in place - if the mother plant is on its way out, the keikis will use it as a source of energy and nutrients - and hopefully, will absorb enough that they can survive on their own eventually when the mother plant gives up. If you remove the keikis now, you won't save the mother plant if it is already fading and will have weak keikis that probably won't survive either. Let Mother Nature run her course.

Ok, that makes perfect sense! Thanks, Roberta!

[pychou77]

I am a newbie in growing orchid, but I’ve concluded one thing that seems to apply to most of my situations. That is if you have given them all what YOU think that they need, and they still don’t look happy, then they’ve been spoiled.

Since you water it every 4-5 days, the problem is most likely due to root rotting from constant wetness of the potting mixture. On the 5th day before you water, take out the top portion of the bark and check for moisture. If the bark is not almost dry to the touch, check for root rotting further down.. .

Using a smaller pot and bark only (without moss) for a shorter wet-dry cycle could be the solution. BTW, I would harvest and pot the large keiki higher on the cane, not to save the parent plant, but to have a new healthy plant.

[bethmarie]

I'm with Roberta. Leaves those keikis where they are. Their roots are shorter than I'd like to see before taking one off.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by pychou77

Since you water it every 4-5 days, the problem is most likely due to root rotting from constant wetness of the potting mixture. On the 5th day before you water, take out the top portion of the bark and check for moisture. If the bark is not almost dry to the touch, check for root rotting further down.. .

Using a smaller pot and bark only (without moss) for a shorter wet-dry cycle could be the solution. BTW, I would harvest and pot the large keiki higher on the cane, not to save the parent plant, but to have a new healthy plant.

Watering frequency is very flexible - if things stay too wet, use larger bark. If they dry out too fast, use smaller bark. That way, you don't have to make a decision on every plant every day or every week... you make the decision once every 2-3 years, and water pretty much everybody the same (or maybe a couple of groups differently) Otherwise, as your collection gets larger (and it will...) you make yourself really crazy. Extreme example in my own yard - I have L. anceps that needs full sun, and wants to dry out fast right next to Epi. lacustre that needs full sun and and wants to be sopping wet. (It's the only area that gets full sun that both species require.) During the summer heat, I'm watering that area every day. How to get it right? The L. anceps are all mounted or in open baskets with very little medium. The Epi. lacustre is in a plastic pot in pure sphagnum moss. The L. anceps dry out in about 2 hours, the Epi. lacustre stays wet, both species grow well and bloom like crazy.

[pychou77]

Here is one option to save keikies (not applicable to Irisha99 situation) before roots are fully developed.. . if the cane can be sacrificed.

[Irisha99]

It’s potted in small bark and I water when the moss is nearly dry or completely dry. I don’t think the problem is overwatering. I think I delayed it because I put the stupid bag over the plant thinking that it might do better in higher humidity. And one of the largest keikis actually rotted to the point that it had to be removed. This other keiki at the top of the cane grew a little bit but got kind of fat and looks funny. My concern is that some roots have black tips. I got another division from the same plant and that one grew only 1 keiki but it’s 10x as big. This division wasn’t doing as well from the start. Thanks for your advice guys. I am keeping the keikis on the plant for now