Help with orchid care

8 years ago

Hi all!

I’m a first time poster here on Garden web but a long time reader. I unfortunately am not blessed with a green thumb and need help with my orchid. I’m hoping you all can give me some advice as to what I should do. I have a mini dendrobium, it didn’t come with an ID when I bought it, but I think it’s a dendrobium phal as it had flowers on a spike. It’s potted in a 3 inch pot with bark medium. A few months ago the leaves on two of the canes started turning yellow, I think one cane is completely dead. My dendrobium was accidently knocked over a few weeks back but I don’t think that’s the only reason it’s suffering, although it definitely didn’t help. It’s probably me not knowing how to water it. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to give it a winter rest so it’s been kept mostly dry this winter, and I don’t know when to begin fertilizing it again. I think I’m worried about watering it too much that I may not be watering it enough. We recently moved so I’m thinking of putting it in the upstairs bathroom with a window facing towards the west. Is this a good idea? Should I separate the live canes and repot? I’m in zone 8 in Virginia by the way.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments (4)

arthurm2015
8 years ago
The main problem with Dendrobiums is knowing which type need to be kept drier and cooler in winter. You have the type that would be easy to grow in Hawaii, Warmer parts of Florida, South east Asia and so on.

It needs warmth all year with only a very slight cool down in winter and slightly less water and less fertiliser in the cooler months.

A healthy plant might have three canes/pseudobulbs and a growing lead with leaves and a couple of older growths without leaves which provide a reserve of food to the plant.

See if you can find some complete notes written for your part of the world.
Adrienne Parmelee thanked arthurm2015
laticauda
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I would give it a good soak (pot and roots: not the pseudobulbs or leaves). It's looking like it's been dry for a long while and it won't hurt it.
Adrienne Parmelee thanked laticauda
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shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
8 years ago
West summer sun may burn it up. A full dose of morning sun is more preferred. It can take a lot of water as long as it is fully drained before the next watering. That means the bottom can be a little damp when watering again but don't let it sit in standing water.
Adrienne Parmelee thanked shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
Adrienne Parmelee
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all for the advice! I will research more about orchid growing in Virginia. When I soak the orchid, how long does it stay in the water for? I didn't know I could do this, I definitely haven't been watering it enough! Should I be fertilizing it now by doing the weakly weekly? I might move it upstairs as the downstairs area where it is right now is cold and it sounds like it likes warmer temps. One more question, I've potted it upright and it just ends up leaning to the side, should I just leave it leaning or the next time I repot should I put a stake in? Sorry for so many questions, I just really don't want to mess this one up, It's a really beautiful plant and the flowers were lovely.