Ailing Dendrobium with keikis
 

During my summer vacation, my dendrobium was over watered by the house-sitter. It's been on a slow decline ever since. At this point I'd say it's pretty much a goner. However, all along the stem there are keikis in various stages of development. There are six of them. They range from the most mature one with a good 2"" of roots to keikis with leaves and roots just starting to develop.

Do I wait for all the growths to get longer roots and cut the whole stem and lay it on damp moss? Do I cut off the ones with the best roots and leave the others to grow or die? I've never done this before and I just don't know how to approach it.

I could sure use some help on this.

thanks

What kind of Dendrobium is this? Some types (like nobiles) shed all their leaves at the end of the season. Then, they will either produce flower spikes or keikis from the bare canes. Your plant may not actually be unhealthy.

Keikis should not be removed until they have several roots each a couple inches long. Then, they can be put into small pots in sphagnum moss or fine bark mix.

I should have also mentioned that the stems are kind of soft and squishy.

Could the plant actually die before the keikis grow roots long enough to pot up?

I have never heard of a dying plant producing keikis, but I suppose it's possible that the plant is putting the last of its life into developing the keikis in a desperate attempt to reproduce. Have you checked the roots? If it still has some, you may be able to save it. As for the keikis themselves, I would wait and see what happens. If the plant dies, the keikis will need to be removed whether they are ready or not, and potted. If they have at least some roots, you should still be able to get them going. Even if they don't there's a chance you can get them to grow some. Basically the keikis depend on the plant for nourishment, so if it dies they will begin to deteriorate if they aren't potted.

If the keikis survive, do I leave the stem in one piece and lay the whole thing on moist medium, or should I cut them into individual pieces and put them is seperat pots?

You can lay the whole stem on moist medium. (Eventually the babies will have to be separated from the cane, but a way down the line, which will give the babies a fighting chance being nursed by the mother cane until then). You can cut off the strongest most vigorous babies and plant them up seperately. You can cut them all off and pot all of them seperately. Any way works, it will be your choice as you can estimate the health of the babies.