Selective overnight wilt on (dendrobium?) bulbs

[m.dlny]

Originally Posted by estación seca

This is probably a Dendrobium nobile hybrid. I think the oldest cane might have sunburn. They need a large amount of water when making new growths, and do better if you never let them dry out. It won't root properly unless you pot it up right now. If you use something like fine to medium bark, or LECA, it will be happy with daily watering. Your plant has too few roots to support itself now. Not taking up enough water can cause everything you're seeing. Fortunately it is about to begin forming new roots.

This might be where my problem lies - I was basing my care regime thinking that dendrobiums like it on the dryer side Oh, how much I still have to learn!

Thank you for your input, estación seca. I have returned the plant to medium bark - will keep my fingers crossed and continue to observe!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by m.dlny

This might be where my problem lies - I was basing my care regime thinking that dendrobiums like it on the dryer side Oh, how much I still have to learn!

Thank you for your input, estación seca. I have returned the plant to medium bark - will keep my fingers crossed and continue to observe!

When I was starting out with orchids, I was told that nobile-type Dendrobiums should have no water from Halloween to Valentine's Day. When I followd wed that advice, they dessicated and a couple of them died. So I learned the hard way to temper the advice for my real-world climate. In nature, Den. nobile may get no rain for several months - but gets humidity and lots of morning dew. Where I live, along with only occasional rain, there's little dew... and in winter we may have days with single-digit humidity and summer-level heat! So I water them less in winter - maybe once a week if it's cool, more if we get those hot days. And they now are thriving. I think the cool winter nights are also a factor in blooming. I also don't fertilize them during the winter and that seems to help with spring blooming.

So... I learned through hard experience to temper the "generic advice" with some common sense based on observation. I think you have come to the same conclusion. New growth looks good, and you'll see more as spring progresses. Welcome to orchids!

[m.dlny]

Originally Posted by Roberta

So... I learned through hard experience to temper the "generic advice" with some common sense based on observation. I think you have come to the same conclusion. New growth looks good, and you'll see more as spring progresses. Welcome to orchids!

Roberta, thank you ))))

And you are absolutely correct! It seems I am finding out A LOT OF THINGS the hard way... It's a good thing I read in one of the treads on this site that to become an expert one has to kill 1,000 orchids.. or at least your own weight in plants - I must be well on the way to becoming one!!!!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by m.dlny

It's a good thing I read in one of the treads on this site that to become an expert one has to kill 1,000 orchids.. or at least your own weight in plants - I must be well on the way to becoming one!!!!

hahaha .... M.D. ...... that was the old days. In these new days, where there is an abundance of information about growing orchids in general ------- it's certainly possible to cut down on the chances of killing general/mainstream orchids - such as tropical orchids.

I genuinely have lost a total of four orchids (cattleya). But this was a long time ago. I have really found that if certain basic conditions are satisfied, and provided we can deal with attackers (certain biting and sucking insects, and/or snails, rodents etc) and no bad virus gets in ------ then home-grown orchids can survive indefinitely ---- such as decades .... and more.

Experience certainly does help a lot. But understanding enough requirements, and maintaining those requirements is pretty much all that's needed to keep orchids going really well. And the information about the requirements can easily be gathered from sites - such as this forum.

Lots and lots of home orchid growers have orchids that just keep going and going (growing), and nothing bad ever happens to them ------ as satisfactory conditions are maintained.

For some places around the world - such as snow countries, where the temperature etc can be at levels outside of the orchid's safe range ----- then I can understand some reasons for orchid losses. But that's really due to life support systems not working (heaters etc) properly, or life support systems failing ----- loss of heating etc. But that is a control system problem ----- and maybe not much can be done about that, unless extra money is paid to have back-up systems.

[m.dlny]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

In these new days, where there is an abundance of information about growing orchids in general ------- it's certainly possible to cut down on the chances of killing general/mainstream orchids - such as tropical orchids.

I am very hopeful I will never get to the abovementioned level of expertise )))))))))

But also very glad that I found this forum - there is a wealth of knowledge here and I LOVE the fact that members are very engaging and supporting!!! And throughout my orchid research I've also come to realize that I far prefer to be selective in the sources I trust than drown in an ocean of conflicting information )))