Cutting Dendrobium canes

[Townsville]

Hi

Could anyone tell me when, and how, I should cut the leafeless canes of dendrobiums?

Thanks

Townsville

[jerrymeola]

do not cut them.

the canes of all Dendrobium (and most orchids) are useful to the plant as a storage for food and water that the plant can draw upon when its usual supply is short and the plant needs more.

Additionally some dens like Nobile types flower best on the old bare canes. If you cut them you will have no flowers.

When the plant gets too many old canes you will quickly know as they will shrivel and dry up to where they can be pulled off with very little pressure.

This Dendrobium had 1000 flower buds on bare canes and none on young canes with leaves.

[Townsville]

Thank you - and Happy Christmas.

Townsville

[prisana]

I think I need to burn this book I've been reading..it says to cut the leaveless cane for it deprives others of nutrition ...it was first published in 1954 !! This is a new edition , but maybe they forgot to edit this part !! Few other infos have been the opposite of what most people are saying in this forum also..

I have cut one of the leaveless canes of my dendrobium into sections, dipped them in sulfur , and sit them in sphag in a big glass jar to see if I can get baby plants from them. I'll keep the rest of canes intact from now on.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

That book definitely needs correcting. Any cane more that 5 or six years old can probably be cut off, 4 is debatable, but if a Den looses leaves after one or two years, then the advice in the book is way off.

You may want to use some hormones on the cane pieces. Something like Rootone from a garden supply would probably help.

[prisana]

Cynthia, will do , I ran out of rooting hormones while fixing up the other seedlings in a manic rescue operation last month. Thought maybe the sulfur will work the same ..(it's that book again ) That could be the reason that after a month, I haven't seen any growth yet. They said in a few weeks , but I'm not sure how few..:-) Are all sulfur created equal ?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Sulfur is anti-fungal. So is rootone, but the later product also has hormones to kick start the new growths, and sulfur does not, in fact, sulfur is a pure element.

[prisana]

Off to buy Rootone tomorrow then..thanks Cynthia .

[junieg2]

Here's an example of why not to cut naked canes. My Den. Dream Ace is now blooming beautifully, so I'm glad I resisted the urge to cut the naked canes and followed the advice of the "experts" here. Enjoy yours...... junieg

[BillC]

Hi Junie, that's a very nice pic of your Den, and the plant looks in super condition, congrats!! Bill

[prisana]

Junie, That IS a very nice plant thanks for sharing the picture.--prisana

[Townsville]

After seeing that, I'll never cut a dendrobium cane again!

Townsville

[Sharyn]

Junie, really beautiful!

[lilsoy]

sorry for reintroducing an old thread with a newbie question...

just wondering if anyone knows, in the case of putting a broken cane on some moist sphag to encourage new root or keiki growth...

if the sphag and cane are to be put in a bag or jar, should these be completely sealed? do you need to replenish/refresh the air inside?

thanks!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

In my greenhouse, I just lay them down flat on the top of the largest pot I have going, and have the cane half buried along its length. This seems to be enough contact to moist mix (house plant or terrestrial orchid) to support the cane enough to keep it from shriveling. In a dry home I guess a bag isn't a bad idea, but you can seal it or leave it open. Depends on if you see severe shriveling, which I don't think will be a problem with Dens.

[Tobi]

Junie - That is gorgeous, nice growing!!