Dendrochilum glumaceum. Is this a healthy rootssystem? - Orchid Board

RenéeS · #1 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 09:58 AM

Hi everyone,
A few weeks ago I bought this Dendrochilum glumaceum at an orchidshow. Just today I found time to repot it and I notice it had been potted in a mix of bark, normal potting material (earth) spagnum and cut up spunge!!! Loads of pieces of spunge had been suffocating the roots by the looks of it.

The plant itself looks fairly healthy, it hasn't done anything since I gotit, which made me think it's in his resting-time. It had 2 new good looking bulbs.

I'm not familiar with this specie and would like some views on how you think the roots look. Do they look healthy to you, or not? Because I'm not all that sure

I'm planning on potting it in bark & sphagnum mix now.

Thanks!

boytjie · #2 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 10:16 AM

I've got a few Dendrochilums, and the roots look pretty healthy to me, though I'm no expert. I can see what looks like lots of fresh white root growth in your pics. After you've potted it, just leave it alone, and don't be afraid to let it get really pot-bound before you repot it again. One thing you'll learn about Dendrochilums is that they don't like to have their roots disturbed. I know you had to unpot it to change the growing medium, but just so you know, there's a good chance it will now sulk for a period of time. Good luck!

RenéeS · #3 (**permalink**) 10-21-2009, 10:24 AM

Thanks for your reply!

I did know that this specie doesn't like it's roots disturbed. The medium looked so wasted away and it smelled a bit moldy, so thought it best to give a new pot. When i shook the plant a little, alot of old medium fell out, along with alot of old roots!
I hope it will survive my invasion and I'll give it a nice spot among my other sulking plants so that they can complain to eachother about the horrible person disturbing their roots!

.
After some closer inspection I did find a big new growth-spot which looks like it should come to life sprooting roots soon, so I feel a bit better now

Trey · #4 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 10:39 AM

The roots look ok to me. I hardly ever pot my Dendrochilum on, I agree with Boytjie on the sulking bit. Depending on the Dendrochilum species I generally use a mixture of moss, bark and small pebbles, I personally wouldn’t be concerned about the sponge. Most of the genus are found in mossy forest and upper montane forest where they are continually wet. As I like to grow my Dendrochilum to how they would find themselves in the wild I generally sit my plants in water year round and give them plenty of air movement.

Cheers
Trey

RenéeS · #5 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 06:45 PM

Trey, thanks for your feedback. What you said about how you grow your Dendrochilums made me wonder if mine is getting enough water. I'm afraid I'm keeping it too dry atm, going to see if it would like to stay a bit more wet

Sandy4453 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 10:51 PM

Dendrochilum don't want to be disturbed and since you've repotted, you'll probably see very little activity for this plant for a long while, especially now since we're going into winter. I never repot these when I receive them and I always buy these from vendors I know have these potted in good, healthy medium because I don't want the consequence of setbacks. In fact, just traveling through the postal systems and setting them in their new surroundings, will cause them to stall.

The roots looks good on yours. Let it be and by next spring, you should start seeing new growth.

Bolero · #7 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 03:45 AM

Yes that;s a healthy root system. I have one as well but the bloody thing has never flowered in over 5 years......so guess where it's going......

RenéeS · #8 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 05:43 AM

Oh dear, I feel bad about repotting the poor thing now

But it's medium just looked so yucky! I hope it'll be happy in it's new medium and that it will grow in spring. I did notice a new growth just about to start, it's eye had already developed a little. Do hope that won't stall now

years without blooms, that is long... Bolero, I hope you're not implying that it's going to the bin!

Thanks all, for your replies, I have learned a bit more about this specie and how to treat it!

Bolero · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 06:44 AM

If the medium was bad then it probably still needed to be repotted even though the roots are ok.

The bin? Hmmmmm either that or the compost heap or maybe I will sell it to some poor unsuspecting orchid board member......he he he. Just kidding.

Sandy4453 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolero

If the medium was bad then it probably still needed to be repotted even though the roots are ok.

The bin? Hmmmmm either that or the compost heap or maybe I will sell it to some poor unsuspecting orchid board member......he he he. Just kidding.

Again, I agree that you probably did the right thing by repotting it. There's a member here that just posted a 10 year wait for blooms on a Vanda so, eventually.....

Bolero, I'll send you my address.