Den. Platycaulon Dead or No?

[c123anderson]

Hi everyone. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me on this topic.

Short background: I'm dealing with a mealybug infestation.

(Note: I have received some absolutely outstanding advice on this board about this issue. I feel I've got the "first wave" under control and will be switching to the continuing treatments. Thank you for this!)

Question: Is my Den. platycaulon dead? The first picture is 1/8/2023. The second picture is 1/15/2023. Third image is from 1/21/2023 -- day of insecticide treatment. This morning -- 1/24/2023 -- the new growth was yellow and withered. I was able to pull it out without any effort.

Note: I received this plant about 2 months ago. The seller had omitted a heat pack and it got a some cold damage. I have been watching the plant, and it did seem to be making progress and growing or rebounding from its cold exposure.

I've culled the plants that are clearly struggling/mostly dead and will not survive the mealybug treatments. I'm just trying to decide if this one needs to be culled and would love to get opinions from those of you who are much more experience that I am.

Again, thank you!

[c123anderson]

Update, the whole new growth was not pulled up; just a couple of leaves.

[Roberta]

Definitely alive. Even if you lose the new growth, the old p-bulbs look quite robust, and will produce more, either this year or next. I don't count deciduous Dendrobiums out until they are brown and shriveled for a year.

[c123anderson]

That’s a good way to measure. Thanks for your thoughts, Roberta!

[c123anderson]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Definitely alive. Even if you lose the new growth, the old p-bulbs look quite robust, and will produce more, either this year or next. I don't count deciduous Dendrobiums out until they are brown and shriveled for a year.

And thank you for the reassurance, Roberta. Here’s a picture of what I found under one of the pseudobulbs this morning: new growth!!!!

[Roberta]

Lots of Dendrobiums look dead in winter. I never count one out until it has stayed dead through summer.

[c123anderson]

But when the canes are soft/squishy and no leaves … is that a goner?

[Roberta]

Soft and squishy may indicate death, but lack of leaves (until it persists through the growing season) doesn't. I just wait and see, orchids teach patience. I'd rather keep a dead plant around for a few months than accidentally pitch a live one.

[DirtyCoconuts]

this is a tough plant- i have tried hard to kill it lol

[c123anderson]

Thank you all for your advice. I was willing to toss it, but I’m glad I didn’t. Pictured is what I found this morning. Thank you! Great advice, Roberta!