Spots on dendrobium "Banana Panda"

[Stargazer997]

Hi, I can't post a picture, being new...however let me describe the condition. I have a cane like deb. purchased last summer. No blooms, in a 3 inch pot, 8 inches tall with 3 active canes. One cane which is new since purchasing. All along, it had some black spots on the leaves, sporadically placed, not rectangular. I read up, and assumed it was sunburn. However, as of the past week or so, one of the leaves is turning yellow and the spotting seems to be increasing on all leaves. The leaves are not quite as green and turning downward, more so than normal. The new shoot still looks healthy! I've had this babe in in a SW window during the winter (Minneapolis) and have now thought about moving it toward more sun, southern exposure. I tried to keep it dry during the winter, dormant season, and now may have jumped the gun on watering?

What do you think? Love the forum, Having gone from 5 to 20 orchids in 4 days!

Thanks!!!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Really need a picture. Two more posts will do it.

[Stargazer997]

Hi Cynthia, I'll post the picture as soon as I figure out how to download it without it filling up your entire screen. "-)
Martha

[Aniko]

You can post right now attachments in your text message.Just select clicking the option Go Advanced and than you'll see the button for Attachments, directly from your computer.

[Stargazer997]

Greetings! okay, hopefully this will work and you can view the attachment of the spotted dendrobium. Thank you both for your help and hopefully it will be good news about the plant's "prognosis"!

[jerrymeola]

The spots you describe on the den are quite common. They come from a variety of causes.

It is not sunburn. Sunburn starts brown and can change to grey. Sunburn will always concert rates in one area and not be spotty around the leaf.

The yellowing is the next step in the process of a leaf's death. Den leaves do not live exceptionally long. I use as a rule of thumb that they will die within two years. (not really true but it seems that way to me.)

My newly purchased dens seem to lose all their leaves from purchase through the first winter. New growth brings it back to a show plant over the next two years. This happens with young dens and old mature dens. Since I usually have 1000 dens at a time, picking up dead leaves is a job.

The nice part is that your plant will grow and re-flower. Good general care is what you need.

[Stargazer997]

Thanks for the good news and information Jerry! I'll let the den. out of solitary confinement.
Martha

From early spring on, if you give your plant lots of sunlight (preferably outdoors when the temps get higher), water and fertilizer, it will grow like mad for you. Dens are very hardy, forgiving plants.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I think you may have been keeping this Den too dry. This is a warm growing Den and should not be severely dried off like some of the nobile Dens. During dormancy, no growth and no blooms, the plant should get very dry before watering, but doesn't need to stay dry for very long periods, 2 to 4 or 5 days is OK.