New Dendrobium owner with problem- help!
 

Hello! This is my first time to the website and I am ALSO a first-time orchid owner! I am very intrigued by them!! The phal I purchased is doing great, however, the dendrobium is looking pretty sad. I bought it three weeks ago and now it has started to develop yellow leaves with brownish-yellow spots. YIKES! Any thoughts from the experts out there on what might be happening here?? I am following the appropriate watering schedule, have a humidifier going, and am keeping it in a muted south-facing window. Should I trim back the affected part of the plant, or does this sound like the works of some evil bug? I live in Alaska where we are getting close to the 60 degree mark (70 in the house) and we have about 16 hours of daylight now. Hmmmm .... anyone's input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks! :_(

Do you have a name tag for the dend?
There are several different dends sections that require different culture.

Yellow Dendrobium leaves
 

Thank you so much for your quick response! I'm working on a getting a picture taken of the leaves ... it's the entire leaf that is affected. Started first with the bottom leaves, then worked it's way up the stalk of the plant. Not getting bright sunlight, so I don't THINK it's sunburn. The name on the name tag says "D. Burana Pink #2".

Have you checked its roots when you bought it?

Join the club. I've experienced the same thing with a number of dendrobiums over the last couple years. It's amazing how fast it happens once you bring it home. I don't know what to tell you because some hold their leaves, some develop the same yellowing with dark spots and drop them within days, and one dropped all but the last 3 or 4, which have remained green and healthy looking for 6 months now.

It's become a simple solution for me. Don't pay more than five bucks for a dendrobium at my local club's silent auction table. And even then do it reluctantly.

$5.00? The last two Hybrid Den NOIDs my mum bought me for Christmas at BIGW [kind of like a Wal-mart I imagine] were $25.00 each! :shock:

Ouch! The most I've ever paid for a dend is $18 at an orchid show. FWIW my dend. nobile 'Frosty Dawn' dropped all but 3 of it's leaves last year when I brought it home from the show. When it finished blooming I repotted (in too large a pot but it doesn't seem to mind), and it sent up a new growth. It's also flowering on the old cane with 3 leaves. It went through exactly the same scenario you described, so I think yours will be fine. I'd keep it isolated just in case though.

KathyMJ,
How is your dendrobium doing? I have a dendrobium burana emerald that is doing exactly what you described with your dendrobium, although I am down to the last green leaf :( I Just wanted to find out the status on yours...thanks!