Hi from Steve S in Ohio w/ ? about dendrobium

[Steve S]

I got my first orchid, a phal, last year at the New York Botanical Orchid Show.
My second was a rescue mission for a paph that my daughter had given my brother several years ago, that he hadn't managed to kill and so far I haven't either. This year I have added 4 more.

One of them was a Den-phal that was at the end of its blooming when I purchased it at a good price 2 months ago. It was a healthy looking 10" plant with about 12 canes and is showing some new growth. It is in a clear 6"wX4"d pot and potted in sphagnum moss. The pot is not filled completed with moss, the bottom 2" has very little moss. The sides of the pot have turned green along with some of the roots and there is some of the moss turning green on top. AM I OVERWATERING? I water once a week and draw out any excess water from the pot. The moss seems pretty dry after a week.
Humidity has been between 50 to 60%.

It also has a couple of leaves turning yellow on the end, which usually means over fertilizing from what I've read. I have been using 2 cups of a combination of two orchid fertilizers to get about a 20-20-20 mix.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks from Ohio
Steve S

[pikevi]

Hello Steve S.

Welcome to the forum. I cannot help you but I am sure others will.

[fred]

hi and welcome to the forum

I hope that you enjoy your stay here with all of us orchidgeeks

this link may help with some of your questions

Dendrobium Culture notes

[kmarch]

It's the plant that will tell you if you are watering too much, not the alge growing in the mix.

If the plant is growing and blooming well and if the roots are healthy and not grey, mushy, or rotting, then your watering regemine is probably good. If you do not have one, get a good culture sheet on Phalaenopsis-type Dendrobiums. The American Orchid Society has a good one available to all on their website at www.aos.org

Be careful about Dendrobium cultural advice. Dendrobium is an extremely varied genus with a wide variety of cultural requirements depending on the type you have. Avoid any cultural info not specific to your type of Dendrobium. The AOS culture sheet is specific to your type of Dendrobium.

After you've read the culture sheet, if you have additional questions, let us know. There're lots of friendly helpful folks here.

Happy Growing.