Dealing with Dendrobium Issues

[HighSeas]

Hi All! I have just recently acquired a few Dendrobiums and to be perfectly honest, I haven't grown a lot of them and only have a few.

I've read that you have to be really careful when treating bugs, fungus, etc. because they don't particularly tolerate some of the same chemicals that other orchids do.

That said....What do you Dendrobium growers use for bugs? Fungus? Rot? Bacteria? I don't currently have any issues but I'd like to be prepared to act quickly should that time arise. Better said....when it happens. One never knows!

Thanks!

[RosieC]

Just bumping I didn't know they could be more fussy than others, but I've never had to treat them for anything.

[silken]

I haven't had to treat for bugs on mine but I have heard they don't like imidacloprid which is the systemic in the Bayer products that are mentioned here sometimes and also in Merit, which I get in Canada and is very helpful for scale. I think Malathion may be a safe bet but I haven't had to use it on any of my Den's.

[HighSeas]

Thanks Silken! I'll keep that in mind. I'm glad I asked because I generally use the Bayer products with those issues.

What about copper based products? Anyone with any experience there?

Thus far I've found that my Dends (the few I have) tend to not have the issues you sometimes see in other species/hybrids. But...like I said, it does happen and I don't like to procrastinate with that stuff.

[NYCorchidman]

Do not use chemicals that has copper complex in them for dendrobiums.

I think that's about it.

BUT! like anything else, it's always safe to spray a little bit on one leaf to make sure there's no adverse reaction.

What kind of dendrobiums do you have??

Give them good culture and everything should be fine usually they are quite tough plants.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

For mealies and other soft bodied insects, you can use isopropyl alcohol. This should be safe for Dendrobiums.

I don't know if isopropyl works against scale or not, haven't tried it yet.

[LovePhals]

I used Bayer 3-1 without any ill affects on 2 dendrobiums for bugs. I think it is just the copper product, not really sure but no issues with what I used- Thank goodness!! I used the Bayer as preventative care. I just checked them to make sure I didn't damage them and they look good as new!

[HighSeas]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the input!

NYC...I have a Dend. Nestor, Farmerii, and a few others that I have NO clue what they are. Most were given to me and came with no id. I have two blooming now but really look forward to the Dend Nestor breaking out in dance!

[NYCorchidman]

Well, Nestor is among my favorite dendrobiums!
There are quite a few varieties which vary in plant size and habit, but they do best with good bright light and cool & drier (not bone dry, just less watering) winter to induce flowering.

Farmerii can basically be grown the same way as Nestor, but it might flower better with even cooler winter.

The rest, you have to somehow grow them and see it flower to identify what they are.

Even those that do not need cool winter to bloom, they can generally take it down to low 60s or high 50s. So you may treat them all the same way and see which ones flower early in the spring and sort out that way.

[debrasoon]

Hi all. I have never had problems w my dens. Only that some came with black fungal spots and I persistently spray with thirium to try to get rid of them. Dens to me are the lowest maintenance compared to all my other orchids. They tolerate sunlight well, sometimes even direct afternoon sun with only slight sunburn on leaves. Feed them well, water them well and give some flowering fertiliser and they do well. Mine are almost all planted in coarse charcoal which they do well in. Never have root rot etc with that.


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