Question
I have had a dendrobium for 1.5 years and its flowering stem fell off about 3 months ago.  Now the leaves on the cane are progressively yellowing from the top down and falling off.  I understand this is probably a sign that the plant is going dormant.  However, there is a brand new green cane coming out from the same root so it is putting out new growth still.  Should I continue to water regularly since there is new growth or do I risk killing the plant?

Answer
Hello Kathy,

You've had the dendrobium for 1.5 years and the leaves on the older cane are just now falling off?  It may or may not be an evergreen type dendrobium but then it might be.  If the flowers were on a stem the grew from near the top of the cane, it probably is an evergreen type.  Evergreen types only become semi-dormant unlike deciduous types that go completely dormant in winter.  

Since there is a new cane growing, keep watering and feeding it until it grows to be as tall or taller than the older cane.  In late fall begin to water less often but do not let the potting mix become compeletely dry.  Also, cut back on the fertilizer as it does not require much in winter.  

By the way, dendrobiums produce flowers on a stem only once so once the flowers have all died off, cut the flower stem off.  If things go well, the same cane may produce a new stem next flowering season.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.