Dendrobium and Cambria looking poorly

[The Orchid Kid]

Hi

I am new to orchids and only recently got very interested in them. In a push to get a quick collection going on a limited budget I managed to get some 'bargains' (?) post xmas at The Garden Centre group in the UK, when the flowers had faded. They also generally looked worse for wear - Den leaves slightly yellowing, Cambria with some brown marks.

Anyway, I got the Den 'Thongchai Gold' and Cambria 'Plush' home and repotted within a week into fresh coconut husk (via Ray Creek orchids). The previous mix was very decomposed and damp, plus the centre had wet sphagnum moss likely from seedling days.

Since doing so the Den is continuing to loss leaves turning yellow, to brown. It also has a raised black scab on two leaves. I scraped one off, but the other is below a leave in picture 3 below.

The Cambria is not too bad. It has two plants in one pot, one of which I chucked as it looked bad. The other is ok, but the leaves seem limp and there is brown/black colouration on the p-bulb and one leaf going very yellow. The string in the picture is to steady the plant as it wobbles if I lift it up.

The third fella I have probs with is a small Den (think it is 'Siam Jewel'). Bought it 8 months ago and it flowered very well with healthy foilage for months. By Dec the flowers went and leaves started to slowly drop (not just from lower branches). I repotted a few days ago and found the mix was broken down and damp. Since repot the all leaves are very pale and I am scared I might lose it!

I realise my repot time is not ideal in winter and when plants are not healthy, but it was a case of last resort.

Any advice for a newbie would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks and sorry my first post is not very positive! But on the the bright side I did also get bargains from same shop on a zygopetalum and miltonopsis which after repotting are both in good shape!

Sam

[nutgirl]

What condition were the roots in when you unpotted them?
Were you able to completely remove the old, decomposing mix?

If there is root rot it may take a bit for the plants to respond but they both look healthy. Don't keep them too wet at first until they start growing.

In my opinion, the dendrobium might be potted a bit deep in the new mix. I usually have the base of the canes right on the surface.

Looks like the start of a nice collection.


Maureen

[The Orchid Kid]

Roots were short as I think the decomposed bark at the bottom of the pots was too wet and thick for them to get through. Less than 1/4 were rotten though. I got rid of all the previous mix.

Thankyou but I don't know if they look that healthy tho!

[The Orchid Boy]

Welcome to the orchid hobby!

None of them look too bad. I have a Dendrobium Thongchai Gold too that I saved from a store and it was on clearance. The clonal name on my is 'Viroj', does yours have a clonal name?

[The Orchid Kid]

Hehe, the Boy meets the Kid!

The tall Den Thongchai Gold has now lost leaves on both the shorter canes and one leave on a tall cane about to go.
Getting more worried I'm gonna lose it! Probs my own dumb fault for trying to be some orchid rescuer, at the very start! No clonal name - what is that?

The smaller Den leaves all turning very pale green.

Cambria, looking ok, just that one yellowing leaf. Are the black/brown marks on the pseudobulb normal?

[The Orchid Kid]

Update...the Cambria looks like it is in good shape. New pbulb looking healthy. Still unsure what dark blotches on old pbulbs are tho?

The tall Den. Thongchai Gold has lost all but top two leaves on the two main canes. The small Den. Siam Jewel has one small leaf left and that is all. I have not watered since repotting and the medium is still a little damp, but drying out. Are they doomed?

[silken]

I have a Den that lost all its leaves except two since I got it home. I think these don't like change. As long as the canes are green, I have hope that it will push a new growth soon now that spring is coming. Just continue on with your normal routine and hopefully it will pull thru.

[nutgirl]

Originally Posted by silken

I have a Den that lost all its leaves except two since I got it home. I think these don't like change. As long as the canes are green, I have hope that it will push a new growth soon now that spring is coming. Just continue on with your normal routine and hopefully it will pull thru.

Totally agree. I find they just sit there for a bit and when the time is right, the new growth starts.
Hang in there.


Maureen

[The Orchid Kid]

cheers folks. I took some of the medium off the top, as was a little deep, to give the roots as much air as possible. They don't seem to have rotted, just damp still, so will see what occurs in the next month or so.