Foster Den. in need of assistance

[tanyap]

I am the foster home of what I assume to be a Den. Blue Foxtail. At least that is what the pot markers say. Anyway,like I said I am the foster owner currently and would like to give this baby everything it deserves. I have two phals and they are doing quite nicely, but I have never had a den. I have included pics for better idea. Do I need to transplant, do they look healthy, what should I do to care (water, light, etc.), and if I do need to transplant, what type of media should I utilize. As you can see, they are currently in what appears to be coconut husk. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[mayres]

Your plant looks nice and healthy - no need to repot - they like to be rootbound. It will want a LOT more light than your phals. Check out the AOS culture sheets here - if you still have more questions let us know - http://www.aos.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx.

[kmarch]

I think I dissagree with Mayres to a small extent. While your plant generally looks healthy it does look dehydrated to me. I say this based on the shrunken canes. The AOS culture sheet will help you.

Happy Growing!

[pikevi]

Except for slight dehydration the plant seems to be very healthy to me too.

What is it potted in? It does look like coconut husk but is it a section of the whole trunk of a coconut palm?

It looks like an interesting potting technique

[mayres]

Kevin - do you think this implies that the plant has been underwatered for a period (or another possibility could be overwatering which rots roots and ends up with the same net effect - less than desired water to the plant's tissues)? Or some other condition? I have some dends that have been this way for years and still continue growing new canes and blooming each year. The new ones are typically not shrunken at all but as they age they tend to get more that way each year until they are leafless.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I don't think I would want to judge the condition of the canes from the picture, I'll let you two work on that. I will say that the plant can be watered probably as often as the Phals while in growth or bloom, but when it is done blooming and has no new tiny leaves coming out of the tops of the recent growths, it will be time to let this plant get very dry before watering. I think coconut husk can hold a lot of water, so the weight of the pot should get quite light before watering. Start watering often again at the first sign of new growth.

That growth on the right side of the first picture looks like it is at the edge of the pot. So, the next growth will probably be over the edge, and repotting will be necessary, but wait until the new growth over the side is just starting to put out roots. I think you are going to do a lot of damage to roots in repotting this when removing the chunky stuff, so you want to do it at the exact time when rooting hormones are present in the plant to repair all the damage you are going to do. Timing is going to be VERY important for repotting.

[WIB]

Cynthia's guidance is extremely helpful. I have a Den. Blue Foxtail that has sulked for a while, I think because I was underwatering it when it needed water. I have it more or less in S/H now, and it's pumping out new growth. When is it likely to slow down here at latitude 42.37 N? -- Bill

[jerrymeola]

I may disagree with everyone and will explain why.

The shrivel canes are only the oldest canes and quite normal for many hybrids. I would not be concerned about it. Always judge the health of a plant by the new growth. Eventually all orchids discard old growth when it is no longer needed.

This is especially common with hybrids of Den attenuatum which your plant seems to have it its parentage. I am not familiar with the exact hybrid, but from the photos it has the typical twisted antelope petals of this group, and shriveled old canes are common.

As to re-potting, I am in favor of letting Dens get very pot bound, but here you have what is probably two plants potted in the same pot. You can leave it this way, but it is growing over the side of the pot and may not fill the center resulting in an unbalanced appearance. Or you can re-pot and separate the plants.

I say this because den canes grow out of the last cane and would not have the separation you have in the center of the pot unless it was two plants.

There is no rush to re-pot and you can leave it like this for at least another year without affecting the health of the plant. Eventually as the roots intermingle, it will not be possible to separate the plants without cutting through the roots, which I find frightens most hobbyist.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by mayres

Kevin - do you think this implies that the plant has been underwatered for a period (or another possibility could be overwatering which rots roots and ends up with the same net effect - less than desired water to the plant's tissues)?

You point out what is in my opinion the trickiest part of orchid problem-solving. For those new to orchids or who haven't heard this discussion before: If a plant looks dehydrated (shriveling canes/pseudobulbs and/or leaves) the cause could be under watering (the obvious cause) or over watering. In orchids both situations produce the same symptoms. The underwatering part is obvious, not enough water = a plant showing signs of dehydration. But when many of the most commonly grown types of orchids are over watered, the roots often rot away. Since a plant absorbs most fo its water through its roots, if the roots are rotted or gone, the plant has no way to take in water and not enough water = a plant showing signs of dehydration. This is why so many folks here always say to err on the side of caution and occasionally resist the urge to water. Well meaning growers see a plant looking dehydrated and water it when sometimes the cause of the sad look on the plant is too much water.

Now back to your question mayres, i can't say, just by looking at the photo whether the orchid has been over or under watered. I'd have to check out the roots and the mix inside the pot to say for certain.

Originally Posted by mayres

Or some other condition?

Certainly insect infestation, especially sap-sucking insects like scale can cause a plant to look dehydrated even if watering frequency and root health are perfect. But I didn't see anythign in the photo that suggested insects.

Originally Posted by mayres

I have some dends that have been this way for years and still continue growing new canes and blooming each year. The new ones are typically not shrunken at all but as they age they tend to get more that way each year until they are leafless.

The key thing here is when you said, "The new ones are typically not shrunken at all..." (Again for the newbies) Older canes/pseudobulbs serve as storehouses for nutrients and water which help the plants survive lean times. Often old canes shrink some and do not come back. The back canes on my bigibbum v. compactum are slightly shriveled. The back canes on my other Dens, my 1 nobile hybrid, my Aussie natives (kingianums and kingie hybrids), and my Den moniliforme are not shriveled though. My Den teragonums...some are and some aren't.

[11Orchid126]

This is the type of den that is not subject to monsoons. That means that it is used to even temperatures and does not need severe drying out or chilling in the winter. It also likes to be watered regularly, but as Cynthia points out, allowed to dry between watering when blooming is finished and during periods of no growth.

[tanyap]

Thank you sooooooo much for all of the feedback. I love you guys. This is the best site I have ever stumbled upon. The more I come back and raed other posts, the more orchids I want to own. I think I have developed a slight addiction.