Dichaea sp. in trouble - Orchid Board

Bulbophile · #1 04-27-2009, 01:12 PM

Ok so, I'm new to the forum and relatively new to keeping orchids. I just recently got into keeping miniatures, and got a couple on ebay. Out of the group, was a Dichaea sp. I asked the seller what species it was but he said the supplier he got it from was in mexico and they were unsure. So anyway, to get to the point it is yellowing at an extremely quick rate, it is only a cutting but it is well rooted and I was keeping it in a terrarium that I set-up to house a couple of my miniatures. (increased humidity) I've been using filtered water on it and i just recently changed it substrate because of a thrips outbreak. (just as a precaution, none of the miniatures seem to have been effected) So anyway, it got up to like 87 the other day, and I'm not sure if it was the heat or what. Even though it turned yellow, the leaves aren't wrinkled or anything. Any Help would be appreciated.

This is my first post, I've gotten alot of advice off this forum, because it often comes up in my searches on google. So thanks in advance.
~Kevin

harrywitmore · #2 04-27-2009, 03:44 PM

I've heard that most Dichaea like lits of water. Is it possible that it's getting to much light?

Bulbophile · #3 04-27-2009, 03:53 PM

The terrarium I have set-up has live spanish moss lining the screen so it kinda diffuses the light, it did get a rather big dose of heat and light as compared to what it's been lately. It went from being like 45ish and gloomy to being 85ish and blazing sun. Could it be a lack of fertilizer?

harrywitmore · #4 04-27-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulbophile

The terrarium I have set-up has live spanish moss lining the screen so it kinda diffuses the light, it did get a rather big dose of heat and light as compared to what it's been lately. It went from being like 45ish and gloomy to being 85ish and blazing sun. Could it be a lack of fertilizer?

How long have you had it. I don't think lack of fertilizer would cause it as fast as it has happened on your plant. I think it could be stress, That's a huge temperature swing.

Bulbophile · #5 04-27-2009, 07:15 PM

it's not like it was 45ish in my house but the temperature outside has a big impact in here and the bright light and all. I got it on the 15th of this month. I setup the terrarium that day. All the other mini's in there aren't showing any signs of stress at all. It did get warm enough to evaporate a majority of the water in the perlite beds i have the plants sitting on.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 05-01-2009, 12:39 PM

The smaller Dichaeas are difficult to grow. The only Dichaea that people seem to have an easier time with is Dichaea glauca (which is the largest Dichaea known to date).

If you're frustrated, you're not alone.

Yes, harrywitmore is right, the smaller Dichaeas need lots of water. These should never dry out.

High humidity is a requirement. Anything lower than 60% or 70% and they show signs of stress, so the higher the better.

They also need to be mounted. The amount of water and humidity they need along with the air circulation needed around the roots and the very few roots they produce makes this a necessity.

Dichaeas in general do not produce a lot of roots. Roots can grow from the base of the plant, but they can also grow from the leaf axils as well.

They also happen to be moderate growers (not too fast, not too slow).

Lastly Dichaeas naturally loose older leaves, but it shouldn't be so rapid they can't keep up.

If you have anti-fungal sprays, I highly recommend their regular use for growing Dichaeas for preventative measures.

Lastly, their flowers last only a day (if not less).

Bulbophile · #7 05-01-2009, 12:50 PM

The roots higher up on this one definitely dried out that day. the other roots seem to be fine. it's a cutting. so the roots towards the bottom of it are firmly hooked into the sphagnum and the ones higher up on the growth haven't made it down there yet,because the plant took a sharp up turn....

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #8 05-01-2009, 01:02 PM

Unfortunately, I was only successful in delaying it's demise on the last attempt. But it was a much better attempt than previous that. I had it for about 6 months or something close to it.

Maybe the next time I try, I'll succeed. Like I said, these are hard to grow.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 05-01-2009, 01:18 PM

If you didn't already know this, Dichaeas are pendulous growers (that is they don't grow upright, but rather grow downwards).

Bulbophile · #10 05-01-2009, 01:23 PM

Like i said, I haven't had it that long and it came potted on sphagnum moss, it was laid flat on the top of it, and the ends of new growth had turned up right....