den help, please

[brit6v]

Hi,
I've had this den several months....almost a yr. (pics) It seemed healthy for quite some time, but then it seemed as if it was going downhill. A couple or so weeks ago, the leaves slowly started to yellow and develop dark splotches. I unpotted it and found that apparently somewhere along the line, I had been overwatering it because all the roots were rotten. I then trimmed them totally off and repotted the plant in sphag, in the basket you see, in hopes that my orchid would re-root. I was taking inventory today and decided to ask for your thoughts and advice. Do you think I can save it, and if so, how would you suggest I try?

I would very much appreciate your help,
Vicki

[ischel1]

I don't know that much about dends, but it could be natural die off of the old canes. Do you see any new growth at the base of the plant. Or it could be due to the root problem. Were all the roots dead? Did you check for insects. The reason I ask this is because I had the same prob. last yr. and it was due to spider mite.

[JoeW]

The leaves on the older canes will naturally wither and fall off like that. Dendrobiums do store water in the canes and the roots need to dry out. I do not remember anyone starting roots like you suggest. Marissa got some good advice awhile back.
Here is a post that might help.
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...endrobium.html
also
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ew-spikes.html
and
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ndrobiums.html

[Tednz]

I think you would be better of leaving it in a empty pot and a bit shaded for a while and see if it will put out a new growth then pot it up.I do that with Aussie den's.
Tednz

[brit6v]

Thank you everyone.....ischel1, JoeW, Tednz! I appreciate your advice and I will certainly keep all of it in mind!

Thanks again for your help!
Vicki

[wetfeet101b]

From my experience, hard cane denrdobium + sphagnum moss = big trouble.
The moss stays wet for too long and the mature dendrobium plant's roots prefer to dry out quickly in between heavy waterings.

[Becky15349]

These are pictures of natural leaf die-off, they are probably initiating new canes and are passing old unnecessary leaves. They do this; its nothing to be concerned about.

The sphag concerns me; it doesn't dry out quickly, and dends do need to dry out a bit. I treat mine like catts and they perform gorgeously. Do insure they get their proper cool down in the fall-winter from october to january of 45-55F.

[smwboxer]

Sorry, but this appears to be a hardcane dend. and I would not recommend cooling it down that low. These are warm/hot growers and do not loose their leaves yearly as some dends do. I'd suggest getting rid of the sphag and giving it plenty of light while it puts on growth and roots. These guys are pretty hardy as long as they are kept hydrated, in bright light and warm.

[brit6v]

Hi,
No, there's not any new growth. Yes, all the roots were dead, unfortunately. No, I didn't check it for insects, but I didn't see any obvious ones. I'll check closer, though.

Thanks for your reply.....I appreciate your help,
Vicki

I don't know that much about dends, but it could be natural die off of the old canes. Do you see any new growth at the base of the plant. Or it could be due to the root problem. Were all the roots dead? Did you check for insects. The reason I ask this is because I had the same prob. last yr. and it was due to spider mite.

[brit6v]

Hi,
I didn't realize it is a hard cane dendrobium.....I thought it was a phal-type den. ?? Since it is totally rootless, the only reason that I had potted it in sphag was to hopefully help it to reroot, then I would have potted it in something airer if any had grown. I've learned since then that temporarily potting in sphag is probably not the best rooting-choice, so now it's lying bare in a pot, with only a little sphagnum in the pot, as well.
Thanks for your reply.....I appreciate your help.
Vicki

From my experience, hard cane denrdobium + sphagnum moss = big trouble.
The moss stays wet for too long and the mature dendrobium plant's roots prefer to dry out quickly in between heavy waterings.