Question
I got a Dendrobium Orchid from my boyfriend in Oct. 2007 and when the last flower died..i just left it alone..kept watering it once a week never fed/fertilized it, kept it under indirect sunlight (I live in Dallas, TX by the way)....the stem from which the flowers bloomed at one point was yellow all the way and dry-dry..(so I cut off the whole stem and put candle wax at the end of it to keep bacteria out) the plant itself consists of three bamboo like stems and each one has green thick leaves... recently I noticed brown spots on the bamboo like stems...I think I am slowly killing this poor plant, can I still save it somehow? d

Answer
Diana, it is a common error to water "sleeping" dendrobiums.  After blooming, they go into a rest period, during which, watering should be greatly reduced.  The question now is whether or not you rotted out the "eyes" at the base of the plant from which new growth develops.  All you can do at this point is to occasionally mist this plant and cut way back on the watering.  It is not uncommon for the dendrobium canes to yellow.  If they are firm they are healthy.  Only cut the canes if, and when, they collapse (then are rotted out).  Don't be concerned about the brown spots on the canes.  You are waiting for new growth to start.  If the eyes at the base of the plant are OK, you should see new growth develop from there in the next month or two.  If, and when, that happens you may resume watering and feeding.