dendrobium sp.

[pikevi]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum as well as to orchid growing( 6 months).

I bought two dendrobiums(?) in Sept. of last year. Both were in pretty bad shape, dried up with no ID tags and only one of the two ( the right centre in the picture) had a few yellowed leaves at the top. When I brought them home I re-potted them right away (with coconut husk chunks, bark, sphagnum moss and spanish moss). The one on the middle left was in a smaller pot, besides that there were no other difference in the treatment of both. One on the right sprouted three new stems but the other one is still the same but the stems are still hard and green.

Any possibilities for such a discrepancy in growth? Should I consider the plant to be 'dead'? Any possible way to stimulate its growth?

Thank you.

[Sharyn]

NO, they're not dead. In fact, I have some very similar looking dens. They've lost a lot of leaves over this winter but I learned through this forum that they're ok. Within the last few days, I've noticed a tiny bit of new growth at the tips and a few tiny new growths at the base. Hang in there. They actually look better than some of mine, and I know that mine are OK. Be patient - they'll be ok.

[pikevi]

Thank You Sharyn,

As you suggested I will hold on to it. But it is almost 6 months of dormancy/hibernation. I was looking through the threads and I did not find any info on it. But I will keep trying.

Did you have to take any action or they all began to 'sprout' without any intervention?

I will keep you posted.

[arleneg]

Hi pikevi,

Some Dens are decidious and some are not. The one with no leaves may be a decidious type. Since the canes are still hard and green, keep it and be patient. You should see something new as spring/summer gets closer.

[pikevi]

Thanks Arleneg,

I will do that.Since I have some basic knowledge of botany , I knew something is strange with it as the stems and roots are still hard and very green.

I hope it survives.

I'm curious to know why you used Spanish Moss. That is not a medium we use here in the states. At least, I've never heard anyone mention ever using it in the eight years I've been growing.

[jerrymeola]

Spanish moss is alive and dies very easily when moved. You should never use it for orchids. Possibly you have it mistaken.

As to your dead looking den, it may recover and yet many dead ones I have had looked like that for a long time before I finally dumped them. Let it go through the spring but unless you see new growth at the base in a few months it will be beyond hope.

The den is not a deciduous species.

[pikevi]

It is simply ignorance , orchid126. I was just 3 weeks into orchid 'gardening' and I just had my own media, a mix of barks, coconut husk chunks, sphagnum moss and spanish moss. I really thought spanish moss with its springy texture may help in 'aeration' by not packing the materials tight.

I have about 8 or 9 plants potted in that mix. Should I re-pot them without the spanish moss? Frankly all others are doing well, except one.

Jerrymeola: I don't use spanish moss in the medium any more. But I used it last week to wrap the roots of a vanda planted in a metal hanging basket. I have posted a photo of it in another thread and I don't know how to link that here. I will try and look it up soon.

Thanks for the advice.