Dend. sick please help!

[Beckster]

My Dend. Emma White has little black spots and the tips of the leaves are drying up. They suffered from quite a crash and broke apart, so I divided the plant and hoped for the best. They seemed to be doing very well and producing new growth until recently. Is this a infestation, virus, fungus, etc? I haven't been able to find any accurate info on what I'm looking at.

Also, my Paphinia Majestic isn't looking so well. I don't think it's suffering from the same issue as my Dend. but though I'd post a pic just in case. I've quarantined the three plants until I find out what's going on. Do I need to be worried about the rest of my plants? PLEASE HELP!!

[Carl Austin]

Hi Becky,

I think your Paphinia is losing its leaf because it is generally unhappy. It might just be a seasonal thing but...

Remember, nobody can grow everything.

As for your Dendrobium, I don't see well enough to diagnose it from a picture but it looks to be cultural as well. By the way, it is really overpotted. As a general rule, put Dendrobiums in the smallest possible pot.

Someone with better eyesight than me will be able to give a better answer on the Dendrobium but I don't think you have to worry about infecting your collection with anything.

Are you going to be able to make it down next weekend?

Carl

[Beckster]

I'll be there; looking forward to the show!

Thanks for the tips. I'll try to find a smaller pot for the Dendrobiums. Do you think I should cut off the old dead canes as well? They were really thriving until recently, so I'm not sure what changed. Could be because my husband turned the fan off in my orchid case and I didn't notice for a couple weeks.

I might try repotting my Paphinia as well. The bark in the bottom portion of the pot looks a bit blackish, so maybe it got into some standing water at some point. And I might add some moss to a fine orchid mix to bring up the moisture. The pseudobulbs look a bit shriveled.

On the plus side, my Chiloschista usneoides is in spike! When I bought it (late summer last year) I didn't really think it would survive a life with me, but I just couldn't resist trying to grow it.

[dounoharm]

no air circulation can really make a difference....i wouldnt cut the den canes as they can bloom or form keikis on the old canes.....dens like it warm and plenty of light....i cant help you with the paphinia.....beware of standing water and not enuf air circulation....

[calvin_orchidL]

Just to add more confusion to the mix, the dendrobium looks like it is being attacked by some sort of insect pest, possibly thrips. They produce those characteristic discolored white patches and black dots (fecal matter) although it is hard to tell from the photo. Good luck with that one - as everyone else has said, warm bright and try wiping down the leaves with an alcohol swab to kill the nasties

[Beckster]

I was afraid it was bugs of some kind .

I've been straying them down with a neem oil mixture. I'll have to see if I can find something more effective at the orchid show this weekend.