HELP!! DENDROBIUM ROOT DIAGNOSIS!!! - Orchid Board

emipr · #1 02-13-2013, 10:10 PM

Hi I'm a new orchid grower and i really need help!!. Ok, so about 3 weeks ago I got a Dendrobium from my grandfather. It had two canes with 2 leaf, an a big one without any leaves. I also notice a keiki growing at the base of one of the canes. One received I re-pottered in a pot of the same size with a mix of gravel, pebbles, clay and brand new orchid bark, I watered and fertilize it with a 20-20-20. In the 3 weeks I have only watered 3 times ( once every 7 days) and kept it in a roof balcony facing east, so it takes sun in the morning and plenty of indirect sunlight the rest of the day. I live in the carebbean so the temperature is never under 80F and the humidity is never under 75%, if the temperature get above 93 (like last week) i put it in my room, where the air conditioner keep the temperature close to 60F. The Orchid however doesn't seem to be reacting, It hasn't grow, or shown sihgs of new canes, leaves or roots, in fact one of the leaves got yellow and fell. So i got it out of the pot to check for root rotting, but I really can not distinguish if they are ok or rotten. And if they are ok, why hasn't it react? why it's loosing leaves? I'm really attach to it and don't wanna loose it. I'll provide fotos for your convenience.

nutgirl · #2 02-14-2013, 11:26 AM

Your conditions and choice of mix sound OK.

I would put it back in the same pot with the new mix. I have found that Dendrobiums take a while to respond to repotting. They often seem to just sit there. It is also not unusual for an older leaf or two to yellow and drop.

Don't water too much until you see signs of new growth. You don't want to rot the existing roots. Normally they like to dry out between waterings.

Be sure and anchor your plant well so that it can't move in the pot. Many plants are slow to get established if they are constantly shifting in the potting medium.
Be patient, Dendrobiums are hard to kill.

And BTW - Welcome to Orchid Board!!!!

Maureen

emipr · #3 02-15-2013, 05:43 AM

Thank you!!

violetta · #4 02-15-2013, 06:02 AM

I'm not sure sure about the condition of the roots, it's hard to tell from the photos. They look dried up, are they hollow?
Dens don't like it if you mess with their roots, so pot it up like nutgirl said and water sparingly. Hopefully, new canes will grow, as Dens are tough plants.

vjo · #5 02-15-2013, 07:02 AM

Personally I would not be moving it indoors,your, balcony sounds perfect. If it is going from 90 down to 60 it is really NOT going to like that! They like the heat. If you have a kiki starting wait untill it starts getting roots of its own, then start watering. The roots that it has dont look too good but dont worry too much about them.
The cane with no leaves will never get any roots or leaves on it again but it is still feeding the other canes so don't cut it off. All in all I think it will be just fine....Jean

camille1585 · #6 02-15-2013, 08:29 AM

As Muareen says they like to dry out between waterings, but I don't think you've been watering enough. Gravel and pebbles hold no moisture at all, and new bark doesn't hold very much moisture in the beginning (it gets better after a month or so) and coupled with the temperatures yours is exposed to, once a week was likely not enough. I'd advise you to stick a wooden skewer down in the pot. Periodically pull it, and as long as it feels damp or cool, hold off on watering.

violetta · #7 02-15-2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjo

The cane with no leaves will never get any roots or leaves on it again but it is still feeding the other canes so don't cut it off.

That's what I knew too, but right now I have a Den that is growing at the same time new canes and new roots from 2 older canes. Some pictures:
http://i48.tinypic.com/312fp6t.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/2e1wshw.jpg

And to think that I was so happy because I thought I'd have 5 new canes