DENDROBIUM AMABILE

[pinett]

Hi everyone,
this is my recent purchase.

When I bought it (2 weeks ago), it was in blooming but now flowers are falling. Apparently, the plant was in good conditions with a lot of roots in active growth.
However, I realized that it was very difficult to water, because it seems that the pot didn't increase in weight after abundant watering, also for immersion. So, yesterday I decide to unpot it.
These were my findings:
- a lot of new born aerial roots with green tips;
- a top with moss;
- a tangle of dried roots all packed together and very difficult to districate. I think they were dried because the consistence was very similat to polystyrene, maybe the plant suffered thirst in the last time and wasn't repotted for a long time.

- one little snail;
- the medium was practically absent and destroyed...what remains was a sort of sponge/sphagnum in central part that I slowly cleaned away. The most difficult thing was the third upper part of roots that were going all around in circle, but were all dried. I decided to cut them all.
this one is an picture of an intermediate phase of work.


i don't have the final picture, but essentially I left the central and upper part of roots that were white but firm, while a removed that white roots envoleped in sfagnum because they were not rot but very tender. I though that they would rot immediately after instauration of a right watering schedule


it was a right choise and right timing to put them in S/H?
or it would be better another kind of cultural method?
Is the plant positioned at the right height or I have to lift a bit? what do you think? any suggestions is good for me.

Could you share with me your experience with this kind of dendrobium??
thank you and sorry if my English is not good!

[estación seca]

Your English is good.

Dendrobium nobile flowers do not last as long as some other orchid flowers. Unfortunately, I think the roots you cut off were good.

The plant should recover. If it is growing new roots now, it is the right time to move to S/H.

[pinett]

Just as you said, the flowers have gone very quickly, but i think this one with so high canes and big leaf is really beatiful per se! So. Why it seems to you that those roots were good...i need to understand to improve. When i cut them there was no substance in the centre but just a form of white filament or instead nothing: no consistence no resistance to pressure. So i cut till when i find some signs of vitality (for me obviously). I was too busy to cut to make picture but now if I would have done that it would be better for me! Thank you

[estación seca]

White roots are normally healthy. Dendrobiums usually have a large amount of soft white roots. The small thread is the part that absorbs water. The outer part is like a sponge to hold water longer, so the inner part can absorb it. When the roots die they become soft, or turn to a darker color.

[pinett]

there's so much to learn! now i have some more new concepts to work on :-). basically, I probably traumatize the orchid...but I'm confident in new roots and also in my repotting, this one is a better accommodation and in long time it will pay! byeee byeee