bare Dendrobium canes how to root them

[pamelamcnamara]

I have acquired some Dendrobium canes on ebay with no roots and looking bare and dry. I put them on a bed of damp sphag moss but within less than a week, they had white strands over the bits in contact with the wet moss and looked like they were rotting. I brushed off the white strands and washed them but now don't know how to get them to root. I also had a couple of bare leaves which I understood would also root but the leaves have gone black and brown and fallen off. Please, how can I salvage this lot?!! Many thanks. Pam