Dendrobium troubles

[Torben]

I bought a Dendrobium from a market the other day it looked healthy (to me)... now im not to sure how health it was. But now the leaves are starting to turn a yellow/brown color and also has black dots. While taking some pictures i also noticed what looks to be mold around the base

Any help advise would be greatly appreciated

[Tess1]

Yes Torben, that den is a little stressed, too much water perhaps? The rest of the plant has nice new growth and healthy leaves, so don't worry too much. Water it carefully and don't overwater, check the medium to see if the plant has enough moisture and let it dry out a little before watering again. But don't let it get bone-dry either!

[tom499]

I'm not sure on the leaves, but the medium looks rather tight and if theres fungi forming on the surface its a sign its breaking down.

I would take it out its pot and see what its like, if its tightly packed and generally yucky, i would repot it in medium bark, using a pot fitting to its roots as dens like lots of water, but need to dry out fast.

Where are you living? If your coming into spring you should be fine in saving it, but if your in autumn It could be more tricky as the plant will be getting into its rest period, so it will be harder for it to recover.

[Torben]

Took the den out of the pot, was a little difficult rather tight, there was light mold in spots were especially in areas with lots of root growth. One of the bulbs is soft and brown should i remove it there are others like this but they are hard?


I am in Australia so its comming into spring for me, so looks good for it chances. Will need to buy some orchard potting mix tommorow.

Also what size pot should i put it into? it current size is 20cm wide and 14 deep

[tom499]

Overall looks good then, just check those roots aren't soft, if you can feel the strand through the outer layer there dead, but most of the roots looks good.

Any roots your not too sure on cut off too.

Your entering the growth season so The plant will replace the bad root you cut off. If you've had abit of rot you may wish to wash the base and roots in some physan 20, but im not a user of the stuff so couldnt give advice how. You wont need it, but it would help remove any remaining fungi.

Repot in a pot that gives maybe 1/2 inch space between the roots and the pot all the way round. Dens like to be potted tight, but yours is entering the growth season, and by lookin at the roots growing i that fashion shows they've been tight against the pot wall, so want abit of space.

[kev1970]

hey torben...did it have a name with it ??....looks like a bit of d. speciosum in the background of parentage....possibly d. spec hillii...???

[Torben]

Thanks for the help much appreciated. Will keep updates.

As for the type/parentage i have no idea it just came with Dendrobium tag on it and nothing else.