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Originally Posted by lilsoy  1. Even though some of the canes are plump, a lot of them are blackish color. Please see picture 1 "whole plant". You can see that the far right cane is black near the top. |
If the canes are black and also mushy, remove them at once as they have a fungal rot. This occasionally happens when Dens are kept both too wet and too cold at the same time.
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Originally Posted by lilsoy 2. Also the stems are covered in a lot of "skin" and a number of the stems have never grown leaves since i bought the plant. A number of them are shriveled as well. |
First the "skin." When new canes are growing they are covered in protective leafy bracts. Once the cane is finished growing it no longer needs this protection and the protective bracts die. This "skin" is what is left fo the dead bracts. it is perfectly normal. Some people like to remove them. You may do so or leave them alone.
Next the leafless canes. Many Dendrobiums will loose their leaves off old canes. this also is perfectly nromal. The canes will remain leafless. they will never grow new leaves. Leave leafless canes alone, do not cut them off. These old canes store energy for the plant.
If the energy stores of the plant become depleted, the canes will look shriveled. A little shriveling is usually normal especially in drier months but severe shriveling is not desirable. Extensive shriveling is often caused by one fo 2 problems, either: 1) underwatering, especially in drier, warmer months, or 2) overwatering which causes roots to die off thus restricting the ability of the plant t take in water and nutrients.
I recommend checking the health of your roots. they should be whit-ish and firm or crisp, not grey or black or mushy.
if your plant is not healthy I would remove any keikis as they will continue to deplete your plants energy.