Question
I have a dendrobium orchid that put out a new spike with several buds, but the buds are dying one by one before they open. Why? I have watered weekly. We did have a cold snap (down to about 40 degrees.

Answer
Hello Julie,

Sorry to hear about your dendrobium problems.  While I cannot be certain, from your description of the problem and what happened just prior, I believe yours may be one of the evergreen dendrobiums.  Evergreen dendrobiums do not like temperatures much below 50F and when exposed to 40F temps the flower buds blasted and died.  If you are lucky and a few buds have not begun to wither, they may eventually open if temperatures remain above 55F.  

Hope this helped.  Good luck!

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.