Losing my dens leaves - Orchid Board

amleeco · #1 04-22-2008, 12:08 AM

Hello everyone! Im a newbie starting out with my first den I bought from Trader Joes. Its beautiful! And I hope this turns into a long enjoyable hobby.

The tag on my orchid said dendrobium Klein - Im pretty sure its a hard kind of orchid after reading some of the forum.
But its losing its leaves! The bottom most leave on the stalk will turn yellow and the then fall of then the next in line will start doing the same. It was happening very fast at the beginning and now seems to be slowing down. Im wondering if it is going into a rest and this is how rest begins.

Also i was wondering about light, its in a window that doesn't get direct light, is that enough? Im a little confused about plenty of sunlight but not direct.

Ill try to attach its pictures. Thanks for any help!

charmbutterfly · #2 04-22-2008, 12:19 AM

Mine are doing the same thing right now too!! But mine only has 2 leaves left and its now puttin gout a newgrowth.

i think mine wasn't getting enough light

snow · #3 04-22-2008, 12:37 AM

the medium seems quite dry.
bright light means a south window but somewhat filtered.move it closer to the window over a period of time
dendrobiums love to spent summers outside; and the,y perk right up. hope this helpsll

quiltergal · #4 04-22-2008, 12:48 AM

It looks to me like it could be a deciduous Den. in which case shedding leaves is completely normal. Look in the pot near the base of the canes and see if you can spot a new growth coming up. Can't find anything with the name you provided. Is there anything else on the tag? I found a Den. Tess Kleinman but couldn't locate any other info.

orchidjunky · #5 04-23-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

It looks to me like it could be a deciduous Den. in which case shedding leaves is completely normal. Look in the pot near the base of the canes and see if you can spot a new growth coming up. Can't find anything with the name you provided. Is there anything else on the tag? I found a Den. Tess Kleinman but couldn't locate any other info.

Im having the same issue with my dendrobium. Only difference is that I had split 6 canes into 3 canes... two pots... they were doing fine for 3-4 weeks now but it seems like im seeing the same pattern as mentioned above... is shedding leaves quite common in dens? Is there any information I could read about on this phenomenon that you know of??

BTW I LOVE that slipper in your avatar.. what kind is it and where can I find one!

Ross · #6 04-23-2008, 02:12 PM

I'm guessing it's a deciduous type as well. It's not normal for it to drop leaves this time of year in Northern Hemisphere, though. Normally, deciduous Dendros start dropping leaves in late fall, then sit dry over winter. So something else may be going on.

Randy · #7 04-23-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amleeco

Hello everyone! Im a newbie starting out with my first den I bought from Trader Joes. Its beautiful! And I hope this turns into a long enjoyable hobby.

The tag on my orchid said dendrobium Klein - Im pretty sure its a hard kind of orchid after reading some of the forum.
But its losing its leaves! The bottom most leave on the stalk will turn yellow and the then fall of then the next in line will start doing the same. It was happening very fast at the beginning and now seems to be slowing down. Im wondering if it is going into a rest and this is how rest begins.

Also i was wondering about light, its in a window that doesn't get direct light, is that enough? Im a little confused about plenty of sunlight but not direct.

Ill try to attach its pictures. Thanks for any help!

Presonally, I dislike coconut husk media like that. I got several once at Home Depot and once they were done flowering and I went to replant them the roots were in pretty bad shape. I don't think they were getting enough air in there.

Just my 2 cents,
Randy

quiltergal · #8 04-23-2008, 02:33 PM

Orchidjunky, it's not uncommon for Dens to sulk after being repotted. Their usual response, for me anyway, is to drop leaves when the least bit stressed. Normally I get this response when I bring a new one home. Once it acclimates to my environment it quits dropping leaves and will send up a new growth. Ross makes a valid point that this is the wrong season for them to be dropping leaves.

The slipper is Phrag. Sedenii, and I got it from Briggs Hill Orchids here in Oregon. It's not showing on their website, but I know she has some. If you email her she'll be glad to check her inventory for you.

Briggs Hill Orchids - Eugene, Oregon

orchidjunky · #9 04-23-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Orchidjunky, it's not uncommon for Dens to sulk after being repotted. Their usual response, for me anyway, is to drop leaves when the least bit stressed. Normally I get this response when I bring a new one home. Once it acclimates to my environment it quits dropping leaves and will send up a new growth. Ross makes a valid point that this is the wrong season for them to be dropping leaves.

The slipper is Phrag. Sedenii, and I got it from Briggs Hill Orchids here in Oregon. It's not showing on their website, but I know she has some. If you email her she'll be glad to check her inventory for you.

Briggs Hill Orchids - Eugene, Oregon

I repotted it like 3 weeks ago.. is it like a delayed reaction or something?

Ross · #10 04-23-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orchidjunky

I repotted it like 3 weeks ago.. is it like a delayed reaction or something?

Some Dens react to transplanting and some don't. The ones that do, mostly start responding in a few weeks. I would wait and see. A dose of KLN transplanting solution might help as well. It would stimulate roots (providing the existing ones are viable and able to take up the solution.) BTW, I have one mini Den moniliforme that responded to transplaing by starting a new growth, sending out new roots and initiating a flower bud on a back pseudobulb!