Dendrobium phalaenopsis dropping some leaves?

[astrid]

Hello,

I have read that den phals are evergreen orchids, so I am under the impression that they should not lose their leaves. However, the two NOIDs I recently purchased have decided to drop a few leaves each.

The one that concerns me is the one where the cane that is in bloom has lost all of its leaves, yet it keeps its flowers. The smaller (older) canes on both orchids have all of their leaves. The roots look healthy, the canes are plump, and overall the plants seem to be in good shape aside from this leaf-dropping issue.

So I'm wondering, do some den phals just drop leaves?
Does this sound like abnormal behavior for them?

I have just repotted them, so maybe it got them riled up and they dropped some leaves, but I'm not sure.

What do you think?

[WhiteRabbit]

It's not usual for the newer canes to drop leaves (especially all in a short period), but it could possibly be from the repot. (I've had Dens become 'disgruntled' and drop some leaves after a repot, perhaps because it was not the ideal time for it ?) I've also had this happen when the plant got too cold.

[wintergirl]

Dendrobium phalaenopsis loose leaves very easily. I have been plant sitting one on and off and it has lost leaves 2 different times. Once for the owner and once for me after it got watered in AM and had a temp drop over-night. They seem to be able to bounce back after this. Here is an article about them loosing leaves: Falling Leaves – Dendrobiums - Orchids

[Leafmite]

Some Phal-dens do drop leaves after their roots are disturbed. Don't worry, they should put out a new cane soon and the leafless canes will still send out new spikes. One of my early orchids was a very fussy Phal-den that dropped the two most bottom leaves of every cane in the spring when moving it outside and, again, in the fall, when moving it indoors. Crazy thing. It was in bloom ten months out of the year, though, always with multiple, gorgeous spikes so how could I complain? After having it about ten years, the kids knocked it down a few times and finished it off. Now I have a new Phal-den (since Nov) and am starting over again. It dropped most of the leaves when being moved to red lava rock but it is now putting out new growth. It doesn't mind being moved, though, thankfully.

I've had other Phal-dens that don't care if they are re-potted a million times. I often wonder about this.

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Some Phal-dens do drop leaves after their roots are disturbed. Don't worry, they should put out a new cane soon and the leafless canes will still send out new spikes. One of my early orchids was a very fussy Phal-den that dropped the two most bottom leaves of every cane in the spring when moving it outside and, again, in the fall, when moving it indoors. Crazy thing. It was in bloom ten months out of the year, though, always with multiple, gorgeous spikes so how could I complain? After having it about ten years, the kids knocked it down a few times and finished it off. Now I have a new Phal-den (since Nov) and am starting over again. It dropped most of the leaves when being moved to red lava rock but it is now putting out new growth. It doesn't mind being moved, though, thankfully.

I've had other Phal-dens that don't care if they are re-potted a million times. I often wonder about this.

Yeah, one of them lost all the top leaves, and the other only dropped two. The naked cane with an inflorescence is pretty odd looking, but the flowers are so pretty that I don't mind!

The one that dropped leaves also dropped two flowers after the repot, while the "stronger" one only lost one flower and is still going strong!

All my phals (I only have 4) like to drop leaves at the same time... funny little plants. I repot my biggest one three times in a week (don't ask) and cut off an unsightly twisted leaf entirely, and it just keeps poking out new baby roots like it doesn't even care.

[wintergirl]

I just bought a new den for myself. Hope the leaves like to stay on this one

[Leafmite]

Good luck! They are really great orchids once they get established.