Question
QUESTION: I brought an orchid in terribly bad condition in order to try and revive it.  It had no roots (literally).  The remnants of what had been roots where totally dried up and brown, they were even brittle.

So far the little plant has been doing well, new roots have begun to grow and the leaves are nice and strong.  I'm pretty proud because this is my first orchid, and a rescue at that.  The plant only costs me $3.  That how bad of a condition it was in.  My dilemma is that I'm not sure what type of orchid it is.  

The stem looks exactly like the ones on the plant at this site.
http://blkfaery.blogspot.com/

ANSWER: Hello FAE,

The link to a photo really helped in identifying your orchid.  It is a dendrobium and is of the evergreen type.  

As you are finding out, dendrobium orchids are pretty hardy and tough plants.  I am assuming your repotted it since you said all the roots were dried up and dead leaving it with no roots.  When you repotted it, did you put it in a small pot?  Dendrobiums do not like too large a pot, preferring their roots be constricted and confined.  

Hope this helped.  If you would like more information about dendrobiums, write back.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much!  I have tried looking up pictures of dendrobiums but they all were of their flowers only.  I recently bought a book on orchids and I still had doubts as to whether it was a dendrobium or a cattleya because pictures I found of cattleyas had the same kind of stems.  I would really appreciate any extra information especially about types and brands of fertilizers to use.  I also have a phals that's doing well and had my first bud open this week.  I am very proud considering I don't have a green
thumb and managed to kill a stalk of bamboo.

I did repot my orchid, both of them.  The dendrobium is in the smallest orchid pot I could find probably a 4 inch one.  There's lots of room for roots, because there weren't any, but because the top of the plant was so hardy I didn't think I should put it in anything smaller.??

The phals I brought had two flower stems and only one had flowers when I purchased it.  When they all died I cut it down and know the other one is blooming.  Should I cut this one too when it is done?  Also I think my phals is actually two orchids.  I had two flower stems, before I cut one, and two separate leaf umm...bundles.  As you see I don't know the terms yet.  Thanks for the help. ~Fae  

Answer
Hi again Fae!

To begin, be careful about watering the dendrobium in the 4 inch pot as it probably is a little large for the size of plant.  The reason I say this is because dendrobium roots do not like being kept wet for too long.  Wait until the potting media becomes almost dry before watering again.  Also, dendrobiums do not like lots of fertilizer so use only about 1/4 the amount suggested on the container.  

Yes, many dendrobium and cattleya growths can look similar but once you learn which is which, it really isn't that hard to tell them apart.  Cattleyas usually have one or two leaves at the top of the pseudobulb (fat part) while evergreen dendrobiums usually have more than two that alternate sides going up the pseudobulb.  I won't go into the deciduous dendrobiums now since yours is not that type.  

Don't know what brands of fertilizers are available where you live but look for ones that have lots of minerals listed in varying amounts (percentages?) along with the NPK numbers.  Here in San Jose, Ca. some popular brands are Grow More (water soluble) and Dynamite (time release).  With just a couple of orchids, you probably don't need a large container of fertilizer unless you plan on adding many more orchids to your collection.  (grin)  

Congratulations on getting the phalaenopsis to blooming!!!  Guess your brown thumb must be turning green!  (grin)  Oh my God!  You mean you killed a bamboo?  Now that takes some real brown thumb talent!!!  (LOL)  

Not sure if the phalaenopsis is actually two separate plants without actually seeing it.  Take a close look to see if they are attached to each other or actually separate plants.  Once in a while phalaenopsis will produce a keiki (Hawaiian for baby) right next to the mother plant, they also can make a keiki along the flower spike.  If they are attached, wait until the keiki has roots over 2 inches then you can separate them and put them in a pot of their own.  You are then an official orchid mother!!!!  (grin)  

Yes, cut the blooming spike when it is done.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.