Dendrobium Roots

[Neptune7000]

I have had a Dendrobium for three years now and it hasn't bloomed. Inhave recently repotted it and it had very few if any green or white roots. I cut the rotten ones but the rest were a yellow or brown. Is this normal? What should I do about it?

[walingwaling]

Hi, a photo might provide more info. Generally, thats all you can do, cut off the totally rotten one, if they are still solid, regardless of color, you might leave em on.

[Cjcorner]

Brown roots should be cut off. The plant should be soaked in a fungicide or hydrogen peroxide, then allowed to dry before re-potting into fresh potting mix. When the new p-bulbs begin growing you will get new roots. Your old p-bulbs should be left on the plant as long as they are green, with or without leaves doesn't really matter. They act like the plants batteries, storing up energy for the rest of the plant. Dendrobiums aren't sensitive about re-potting and can be placed back into their usually sunny spot within a week or so. The more sun you give them the faster and bigger these grow. The usual reason for them not blooming is not enough hours of sun a day. These will bloom if kept in a sunny spot...my aunt and mom in Michigan have re-bloomed plants I sent back home with them and neither uses fertilizer. Hang in there...