Is there a Den. Doctor in the house? DT needs HELP!

[dtje2000]

Ok, this dried up, sad little twig of a thing is supposed to be a dendrobium...a vendor gave it to me (should that have been a clue???) on the last day of an orchid show. I was skeptical but he said don't worry, it will grow...well, it's been over a month and the only reason I still have it is the few leaves and a nub that looks promising...

Here it is...what do I do with this? Do I pot it up in something, and if yes, what medium and pot type. Or should I wire it to a cork slab and hose it down a couple of times a day? Fertilizer? Worm Tea? I need advice, folks. I like a challenge, but I'm not equipped to deal with something this naked!

[ALJ]

Wow, I wouldn't even know what to do with the poor thing. It does appear to have a new cane growing. Hmmmm. Humidity sounds good. Moist sphag perhaps? I know someone else out there has a better idea. Much luck to you dtje2000. I would love to see what the blooms look like.

[digitalgate]

count 3 pseudobulb backward from the new shoot (does not inlude new shoot)and cut . Throw the rest away, it is badly infected with fungus. Use a toothbrush and and wash the whole plant, to get rid of fungus on the plant, cut all dead root away.Tie it to coconut husk. Make sure the new shoot point outward and water twice a day. fungicides once a week, weak fertilizer 63 twice a week.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

count 3 pseudobulb backward from the new shoot (does not inlude new shoot)and cut . Throw the rest away, it is badly infected with fungus.

I disagree. I'd only cut the yellow dried up cane off. The others are helping ot support the plant. I'd pot it up, give it good Den care and hope for the best.

[digitalgate]

oops, count two bulb then..

[tansyflower]

Dens are very hardy.

I once found two snipped off canes (not divisions actually cut canes) and put them in a pot and ended up with three keikis after a couple of months. I think it was in spring so it is a good time over there.Even if the plant dies, it may throw a cpl of keikis.

However the plant doesn't look that bad, I think it will survive.

[LouisW]

Seems fairly normal to me (except the lack of roots). Dens like this normally loose their leaves over the winter and need a dry rest. Then new nubs should start growing soon.

Because you live in Florida I think you could easily mount it upside down on a cork board or a tree fern slab (its a loosing battle to try to keep a Den like this upright). Im not sure but perhaps increasing the water and light in the spring will wake it up from its hibernation.

[digitalgate]

this is not nobile type. It does not loose its leave. It is den phal. type. You can't cut it into section and expect it throw out keiki. One whole cane is normally needed.

[Brooke]

Put it in a clay pot, give it bright light but no direct sun, pass the water hose over it once a day for a touch of moisture and wait. Once roots form you can then decide if you want to pot it up or mount it.

Brooke

[tansyflower]

Digi- The canes that I got the keikis from were a Cooktown Orchid. I think they are a phal type?

[dtje2000]

Y'all are the best! I will consolidate everyone's advice and when I have success I'll share it with everyone.

Digitalgate, I'm tickled that you tell me this is a Den Phal type. I've been wondering what the heck those are...now I may very well find out.

Thanks, Geeks...y'all are a treasure!

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by tansyflower

Digi- The canes that I got the keikis from were a Cooktown Orchid. I think they are a phal type?

I have no clue, I am referring to dtje2000's Dendrobium cutting

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by dtje2000

Y'all are the best! I will consolidate everyone's advice and when I have success I'll share it with everyone.

Digitalgate, I'm tickled that you tell me this is a Den Phal type. I've been wondering what the heck those are...now I may very well find out.

Thanks, Geeks...y'all are a treasure!

Dendrobium phalaenopsis -means it does not need a rest to flower, it does not shed leaves to flower. It also does not need a drop in temperature to initiate (at least mine don't) flowering.

[mgfree]

Originally Posted by tansyflower

Digi- The canes that I got the keikis from were a Cooktown Orchid. I think they are a phal type?

I think Cooktown orchids are called Denbrobium bigibbum var. phalaenopsis.

But there are a few different types of bigibbums.

[willowbanks]

Hello DTJE2000, I think a WITCH DOCTOR might be better than a Dendrobium doctor for this plant, it is very crook.

Kev is on the right track by only removing the dead cane at the bottom of the photo but potting is really not an option, just tie it upright spmewhere out of the road and let things take there course, mist only with no fertilizer and do not apply fungicide.

This is not a Dendrobium from section Phalaenanthe but we can worry about an ID later if it pulls through.

Good luck

Bill

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by mgfree

I think Cooktown orchids are called Denbrobium bigibbum var. phalaenopsis.

But there are a few different types of bigibbums.

if it is bigibbum then no rest is needed. Whether it is variety phal. or not.

[dtje2000]

Thanks, Bill. Love the expression "crook"...

I have indeed removed the dead cane, scrubbed the whole thing gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and dusted it's bottom with rooting hormone for good measure. He's propped up in a small clay pot with nothing in it except a layer of charcoal chips in the bottom, and sitting in my west-facing window in my office 'cube' (my work area - I telecommute) with plenty of breezes coming through. I have mist bottle at the ready and will give him two or three refreshing squirts a day and hope for the best. I'm convinced that little nub at the bottom will do something to surprise me. Hope springs eternal!

[willowbanks]

Hey D-G, down here in South East Queensland, Australia, Den. bigibbum does need a dry rest period during winter, we are not as warm and cosy as you are up in Singapore.

Bill

[willowbanks]

Glad you understood what "crook" meant, it's a term we use down here all the time for being sick.

From your photo I couldn't get a good look at the nub at the base of the plant, wouldn't mind seeing a clearer close up of it.

Bill

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by willowbanks

Hey D-G, down here in South East Queensland, Australia, Den. bigibbum does need a dry rest period during winter, we are not as warm and cosy as you are up in Singapore.

Bill

OOoooo I see.

[kmarch]

To clarify things a bit, Phal-type dendrobiums are hybrids made using specie from the Phalaenanthe Section of dendrobium. One of the most commonly used species from this section used to make these hybrids is Den bigibbum. I am pretty sure this is not a species bigibbum but it may be a Phal-type hybrid. of some sort.

Originally Posted by digitalgate

if it is bigibbum then no rest is needed. Whether it is variety phal. or not.

I'm afraid this is not correct. In nature D biggibum does receive very even temps year round but he rainfall is not even at all. In late summer/early autumn these guys get drenched while they get almost no rain in the winter. So lots of water when in active growth but cut back in autumn after growth has finished.

But....and it's a bit but, since I'm pretty sure this is not a den bigibbum, this care probably doesn't apply to the orchid in question.

I think dtje's orchid is some kind of Phal-type/antelope-type complex hybrid That being the case the general dendrobium culture sheet given out by the AOS AOS | Members Only Area of the one here on the forum applies.