Help needed on reviving my dendrobium!

[violetta]

Originally Posted by MJSK

violetta - The keikis that have grown on my orchids all have had roots. I usually take them off, but yesterday I had one from a Den. Nobile hybrid that was about 4 inches tall with about 6 roots that were 2 inches long, so I potted it. Perhaps the growth without roots is an extension of the mother plant and not supposed to be separated?

I have uploaded some photos to show what I mean.
We're talking about Den stardust 'firebird', this photo was taken the day I bought it.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2e4herk.jpg

Then all the leaves and flowers fell, and it had some new growths from the bottom of the canes and 4 keikis. You can see the 2 keikis still attached, they are huge and have no roots at all.
http://i45.tinypic.com/xmiws7.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/2duk0nt.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/28wchaw.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/2e4gjnq.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/16pem9.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/302am2v.jpg

I cut the other 2 keikis and potted them with the mother plant, but their roots were very small and they started dying. So I put them on some wet sphag to save them.
http://i50.tinypic.com/2q0lwl4.jpg

The reason I'm trying to save the keikis is that the mother plant seems to be dying, the 3 initial canes are very shrivelled and ugly looking, I don't know why.

I apologise for using the initial thread for this but I think the issue is similar. If not, I can open another thread.

[catwalker808]

violetta.
Your mother plant is not dying. It has new growths, which are still immature. That is the reason your keikis still don't have roots also. They are also immature. And that is probably why the ones you cut off had no roots & died.

Just leave the new canes to grow until they become filled out & swollen. The keikis will develop roots & your plant will bloom again next spring after a suitable chill. With Den Stardust, a week of 60-62 F should be enough to initiate buds.

[MJSK]

Violetta,
Your Den. stardust 'firebird' is gorgeous. It looks like it may be a Den. nobile hybrid, though I am not sure. The ones that I have loose leaves from their old canes, but then flower off them. I agree with catwalker808 that your plant is not dying. make sure you are watering it enough, or maybe just spraying it with water will help the canes to plump up a bit. Maybe the keikis didn't get many roots as they are growing close to the bottom of the cane. I accidentally broke a newly growing cane on one of my Den. nobiles earlier this summer when I was repotting and a new cane started to grow, fairly quickly from the base of one of the older canes.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by lostonthebeach

I have quite a few keikis now and two of them are about to have their first bloom!

I water them a lot. heavy misting everytime I'm around. morning and evening. weekends or when I'm home all day, I mist all day.
More water, faster growth!

I love to see these little guys growing so nicely.

Glad to hear they are all doing so well. It has been fun and informative following this thread.
Keep the photos coming.[/QUOTE]

Hi, Mike!
Thank you! isn't growing dendrobium hybrid fun?

Yes, they love water! I am thinking of switching the next batch of keikis into s/h to see how that works for them. Then I'm a little concerned about the winter time when the temperature goes down a little. These plants easily rot when it's cool and wet. Maybe I can try the leca on the dry side during the winter time. will see.

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[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by MJSK

violetta - The keikis that have grown on my orchids all have had roots. I usually take them off, but yesterday I had one from a Den. Nobile hybrid that was about 4 inches tall with about 6 roots that were 2 inches long, so I potted it. Perhaps the growth without roots is an extension of the mother plant and not supposed to be separated?

NYCorchidman - I am quite impressed with your success with your keikis flowering already. Great work!

I normally take keikis off the mother cane and throw away.

Regarding my success, I'm only so happy about the wonderful outcome I'm having.
I think it's either luck or the plant being a super vigorous hybrid. I have had genting frangrance laying on moss for a few months now and they are not doing anything. well, beginning to rot actually.

This pink NOID is very vigorous, though. At the time I bought it, it had keikis toward the top of the cane with their own flowers. hybrid vigor I guess.

I am so excited to see miniature version of the bloom very soon on these first batch of keikis.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by violetta

I have uploaded some photos to show what I mean.
We're talking about Den stardust 'firebird', this photo was taken the day I bought it.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2e4herk.jpg

Then all the leaves and flowers fell, and it had some new growths from the bottom of the canes and 4 keikis. You can see the 2 keikis still attached, they are huge and have no roots at all.
http://i45.tinypic.com/xmiws7.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/2duk0nt.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/28wchaw.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/2e4gjnq.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/16pem9.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/302am2v.jpg

I cut the other 2 keikis and potted them with the mother plant, but their roots were very small and they started dying. So I put them on some wet sphag to save them.
http://i50.tinypic.com/2q0lwl4.jpg

The reason I'm trying to save the keikis is that the mother plant seems to be dying, the 3 initial canes are very shrivelled and ugly looking, I don't know why.

I apologise for using the initial thread for this but I think the issue is similar. If not, I can open another thread.

Violetta,

Well, it is a different issue, but it's ok.

Mine is ever green type and yours is deciduous type.
Your plant is perfectly fine, it's not dying at all. The older canes will always lose their leaves around or after flowering. Then the new growths develop from the base of those canes. Sometimes keikis also develops, although it is not recommended and many growers simply pinch them off to encourage the main shoots (the growth that come out from the base) to grow strong.
One of my nobile hybrid produced large keikis like yours and it didn't grow its own roots until it had quite a few leaves. They eventually make their own flowers along with the mother canes, so it's quite the show.

Ever green hybirds usually make roots very early one, I've noticed. and remember, another difference is that the keikis I'm having are coming out of dry cane with no living roots. The cane has some water stored in it, but not enough to support the fast growing keikis. so keikis must have their own roots to absorb water and nutrient.

Your keikis are growing on the mother cane that has probably tons of roots in the pot (although the cane looks shrievled, it is very much alive and doing important things).
Now you can stop worrying about your plant.

By the way, I have never seen it here, but I would love to buy one if I see one. So far, I've found German online vendor who sells stardust, but they don't ship to US.
oh, well...

[violetta]

Thank you all for your answers. I'm new to dens and maybe I worry more than I should. It's just that den phals grow and flower on their own, without fuss, while den nobile are a bit frustrating. It takes some time to get used to their growing conditions.

NYCorchidman - If the keikis ever grow roots, I'd be happy to send you one. I live in Europe and I've never sent anything to US, but the plant is quite compact so I think it shouldn't be difficult.

[RosieC]

I've finally put my struggling one into a tub like this. I found that the connection between the canes and the roots/ryhome was just dead tissue, but most of each of the canes was still living.

We'll see whether I have the same success

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by violetta

Thank you all for your answers. I'm new to dens and maybe I worry more than I should. It's just that den phals grow and flower on their own, without fuss, while den nobile are a bit frustrating. It takes some time to get used to their growing conditions.

NYCorchidman - If the keikis ever grow roots, I'd be happy to send you one. I live in Europe and I've never sent anything to US, but the plant is quite compact so I think it shouldn't be difficult.

Yeah, with the customs, you never know, but I've done it before and usually made it through. hahaha don't tell anyone now!

Thanks anyways!

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by RosieC

I've finally put my struggling one into a tub like this. I found that the connection between the canes and the roots/ryhome was just dead tissue, but most of each of the canes was still living.

We'll see whether I have the same success

If you have more than two canes, I recommend two seperate tubs. one with moist moss and one with nothing in it.

The reason I said this is because all the books I read recommend using moist moss. Well, the canes usually rot with this set up.

My first trial, which was with this NOID pink, I trimmed off all dead leaves, roots off the canes, dried the canes, then put them in open plastic container. I placed the container under the kitchen sink, which is dark and dry.
I totally forgot about them for one month or two. then I saw a few little swellings on the node. then I switched them to moist moss method, but without the cover.

My genting fragrance is not doing anything, well, actually it started to rot. so I just put the canes on dry pot. I do have one keikis off genting fragrance, but it sprouted from the very bottom, where new canes usually grow from. It is now growing five little leaves and lots of roots.
With the growth speed and the current size, I don't expect to see flowers any time soon, but I'm happy I at least have one keiki.