Dendrobium with one stalk doing nothing

[Toni1968]

This was given to me by a friend and it was just the 3 stalks with no leaves. now almost a year later and it has bloomed 2 times. I am happy about it BUT, one of the stalks has still done NOTHING! Is there anything I can do? Do I leave it alone? I love the delicate white flowers though! Any suggestions? Is it healthy? Thanks for all the help everyone is so willing to give!

[panam]

Wow, Toni! You really have a magic touch to get so many flowers. If I ever have a sickly baby, I know where to send it for some great R&R!

[Toni1968]

The first spike only produced 2 buds, 1 opened and then the entire spike died, so I removed it. Then (to my surprise) this one came up, it only has 3 flowers BUT I will take it! My Friends all say I have a green thumb; I do have a houseful of other plants, but orchids are tougher. It seem to be trial and error, till I got on the forum, Now I have somewhere to turn!

[panam]

I wonder: Are orchids tougher or do we merely have higher expectations for them?

[Toni1968]

From my experience; which is mostly Phal., Dend., and Cymb., they ARE tougher. I have never mourned so many deaths in my life! The Cymbidiums seem to be the toughest out of the orchids I share my life and bathroom with! They are beautiful and lush with blooms then they are brown and dead, no inbetween! I deffinately need some teaching! I just posted my successes not my cerimonial barials for the one I loose!

[panam]

I just posted my successes not my cerimonial barials for the one I loose!

Well, yeah!! Unless I think it will help for future attempts, I don't discuss my failures...

[Germinatorman]

We all have the failures, and sometimes they ar tough. But we also learn from them - and we teach each other from them too. Never hesitate to share, you can be you are not the only one..................

[Cjcorner]

Someone once described the old backbulbs of cattleya types and dendrobium types as "batteries". They are a storage unit for water and nutrients. When the plant no longer needs the backbulb, it will turn brown and shrivel up. I leave them until they are completely shriveled and dried before I remove them. Good job on reblooming your dendrobium! Its a lovely one.

[zainal abidin]

Very nice Toni, I wish for the next season ....more blooms . Zain

[kiwiorchids]

From my experience; which is mostly Phal., Dend., and Cymb., they ARE tougher. I have never mourned so many deaths in my life! The Cymbidiums seem to be the toughest out of the orchids I share my life and bathroom with! They are beautiful and lush with blooms then they are brown and dead, no inbetween! I deffinately need some teaching! I just posted my successes not my cerimonial barials for the one I loose!

Maybe your problem with Cymbidiums is keeping them in the bathroom. Is it warm? humid? if so, throw em outside! in a shaded place of course. Good Air movement, cool temps and moderate shade are key to getting these guys to survive....heck! mine stay out in frosts for goodnes sakes!