The Orchid Garden

Probs with Dendrobium

Question:

It stays about 68 – 70 degrees while the lights are on, then I turn the heat down so the temp drops to about 58-60 degrees when its dark. What should I do about this plant?

For evergreen dendrobiums, your night heat is fine but try to get it over 70 during the day. At this point, from your description, I think you have a problem at the roots. You may need to repot right away, even though it is not the best time of year. Iris, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so."  Josh Billings, 1818-1885.

Response:

I agree… It sounds to me like Den. Mystic Beauty ‘Hawaii’ is a Nobile Dendrobium, and therefore a deciduous dendrobium which will drop leaves this time of year. Any orchid taken from Hawaii to New Jersey, where I am, suffers terribly…. Yes, I also agree it is the change in temp to a cooler enviornment that could also cause leaf-drop and yellowing leaves…

Response:

Den. Mystic Beauty = Mystic x Fiftieth State Beauty. It is an evergreen phalaenopsis type. If it is losing its leaves it is due to chilling or other stress. Iris, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so."  Josh Billings, 1818-1885.

Response:

Ok – chillier temps seems to be the opinion so far.  I have my orchids in a small room off the kitchen which I have been keeping warmer than the rest of the house – though definitely not at Hawaii temps.  It stays about 68 – 70 degrees while the lights are on, then I turn the heat down so the temp drops to about 58-60 degrees when its dark. What should I do about this plant?  Will it adjust? Thank’s Den. Mystic Beauty = Mystic x Fiftieth State Beauty. It is an evergreen phalaenopsis type. If it is losing its leaves it is due to chilling or other stress. Iris, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings, 1818-1885.

– Mike Campbell <remove * and ! to send e-mail

Response:

I have a rather distressed looking Dendrobium.  I Live in Portland, OR and I brought it back with me from Hawaii back in October.  The tag says Den. Mystic Beauty ‘Hawaii’ .

I wonder if your plant was reacting to moving from Hawaii to Oregon–and it also sounds like it might have been exposed to cooler temps than it likes. some thoughts:  some dens are deciduous and shed leaves in cool weather. some have leafless old canes (I have a Den. Kuranda Classic that has 6 old, shriveled, brown canes–and the plant has three new canes that bloomed like heck a couple of months ago).  evergreen dens with uprright canes will drop leaves when the temps get too low for their liking.  moldy bark sounds bad–good idea to repot–but use the smallest pot you can fit the roots into. hope this helps Audrey

Response:

Hello – I’m rather new at orchids (although I’ve already got quite a few!) and I have a rather distressed looking Dendrobium.  I Live in Portland, OR and I brought it back with me from Hawaii back in October.  The tag says Den. Mystic Beauty ‘Hawaii’ .  When I got it it was in full bloom.  It has 3 tall canes (16") and one short one (5").  Each of the tall canes had a flower spike; the blooms are now gone and I cut them back.  Now  the problem:  many of the leaves have turned yellow and fallen off.  One cane still has most of it’s leaves, and they look pretty good.  The other canes each have only one or two leaves, and they look bad – blotchy yellow turning brown.  The small cane has shriveled up. I pulled it out of the pot, and the bark had a moldy smell, and some mold patches;  none of the roots however seemed to be rotten, so I repotted it into a slightly larger clay pot. It’s in a southwest facing window (with a shear curtain) with two flourescent plant bulbs also overhead.  On a humidity tray.  With most of my other orchids. Thank’s for any help! — Mike Campbell <remove * and ! to send e-mail

Response:

Filed under: Dendrobium Orchid

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