Dying anosmum or stress?

[MaLLE]

Hi I’m new to this forum but I’m desperately in need of help with my anosmum. I bought this pricey anosmum a month ago and today this is the current state. I’m hanging it like most of my research says, it’s hanging on the south side of the house under the eaves, watering it in the morning, but the canes are shriveling, leaves turning yellow and I’m absolutely stumped! Please help!

P.s. I’m in San Diego, CA so it should be ok to grow here!

[Roberta]

Anosmum is deciduous, though I would have expected it to have done its leaf-shedding by now. It blooms on leafless canes. In fact, go easy on the water - without leaves, it really doesn't need much. What is the condition of the roots? If they are bad, then the plant can't take up water at any rate. In a month or two new growth will start, and the new growths will develop roots. Patience... and back off on the water.

---------- Post added at 11:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 AM ----------

Also, your plant is getting less humidity than it probably was in its prior home. So there's a stress factor too, but don't think you have a problem, just the life cycle of a deciduous Dendrobium.

[MaLLE]

Thank you Roberta for your insight but the cane is yellow too! Is that normal?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by MaLLE

Thank you Roberta for your insight but the cane is yellow too! Is that normal?

That particular cane likely is on its way out... should be light green and firm. Are there other canes that are firm even if leafless?

[MaLLE]

They’re firm but they’re all turning yellow. One new growth that is green but I’m afraid for it. Should I reply and in what?

[Roberta]

In the first photo, the cane looks good, (gray-green) and doesn't look yellow. By "reply" did you mean "repot"? (Darned auto-fill...) It doesn't look like it's actually potted... is there any medium in that basket? If there is, you could gently remove it without disturbing the plant, and take a look. But I have found with deciduous Dens, new roots come from new growth in the spring. If the medium is nasty, you can clean it up... maybe sphagnum might work. But take a look at the roots if you can, and then you'll know how to proceed.

Another thought... depending on where it was originally grown, it may have gotten unhappy with the cold. Generally, when I get a plant that I know can grow cool (coastal Orange County, CA) but has been in a greenhouse, I keep the plant inside until the nights are consistently above above about 55 deg F (another month or 6 weeks), then put it out and let it acclimate so that the following winter it is ready for what comes.

But if canes are firm, should be OK. Stay light on the watering for another month or so.

[SaraJean]

How often have you been watering it since you purchased it? Also did it come in the current basket or did you repot it when you got it home?

[MaLLE]

Its in a basket with a little bit of moss and orchid bark. I repotted it when I received it because the moss had mold and a really small container. I water it lightly with a spray bottle in the morning but when I know its going to rain I don't water it.