Possibly Den biggibum acting oddly - Orchid Board

Omgoodness · #1 03-30-2022, 06:09 PM

Any advice on this one? Bought online about a month ago, it’s supposedly a Dendrobium biggibum, but I’m not sure if it really matches that description. Also its only leaf appears to have died, while it produces 1 or maybe 2 new spikes. All seems very odd behaviour to me

estación seca · #2 03-31-2022, 12:15 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

There are Den. bigibbum varieties that are small, and people are breeding them to make smaller plants. This could be that.

What are your growing conditions? Temperature, humidity, light? How and how often are you watering? Did you recently repot it?

Omgoodness · #3 03-31-2022, 04:45 AM

Thanks for the welcome!

Yes, it has been repotted - maybe 6 weeks ago? It’s currently in an east facing window, temperatures between 17 and 23 degrees C. Have been trying to keep the humidity up, but it’s pretty dry here atm - maybe averaging about 45-50%. Probably gets watered every 4-5 days: its pot is only 6 cm.

estación seca · #4 03-31-2022, 01:56 PM

This kind of Dendrobium wants to be evenly warm and moist all year. It would prefer temperatures above 25C. Your temperatures are at the low end of its tolerance. It may drop leaves if it's too cold.

They often flower in winter to early spring. The buds were probably already formed when you bought it and it's blooming now.

It shouldn't go dry between waterings. Every 4-5 days may not be enough for a plant in leaf. For a leafless plant, that will not be taking up much water, water so it never goes dry.

The time to repot is when new roots are forming. If you repot when new roots are not forming you damage old roots. The plant may struggle until it's the season for new growth - spring and summer.

It probably won't do much until it warms up. It should begin making new green shoots from the base when it grows.

Omgoodness · #5 03-31-2022, 04:55 PM

Ah, that makes sense, thank you very much for the advice. I can’t do much about the temperature, but it should definitely start to warm up over the next few weeks, so we’ll see how it does. I think you’re right, shouldn’t have repotted it yet… Will keep it a bit damper too