Help with my den

[kjp8128]

Hopefully the photos turn out. I will repost if they don't. Just have two questions for my den. Thoughts appreciated.

The Den just dropped some flowers and I don't know where to cut the stem, any ideas??

One of the Keikis died and don't really know what happened... Any ideas. Please see the photo 3 for better description.

The roots look good to me..... They are just white. Are they dieing and I just don't know. kinda new to the den world.

Thought welcome!

[RosieC]

I would cut the spike as close down to the top leaves as you can without damaging them.

The 'keiki' was not really a 'keiki' as such but a new cane on the Den.

I'm afraid I don't know enough to say why it died back. Hopefully someone else will be able to help with that.

[kjp8128]

Thank you for the advice!

Oops, I called it the wrong thing"keiki". he, he way off. Sorry.

I am new with the den species.

[RosieC]

Don't worry, I'm only just working this out as well If a Phal grows a second growth from the base it is known as a Basil Keiki. The same is true of any Monopodial orchid. Monopodial orchids are meant to have only one growth point, but if that is damaged they may form another.

A Dendrobium on the other hand is a Sympodial orchid which means it naturally forms mutliple growth points from the base. Sympodial orchids generally stop growing annually and start new growth points shortly after.

The new growths on Sympodial orchids tend to just be known as just that... 'new growths'. But as a Dendrobium grows as 'Canes' the growths are also sometimes just called 'New Canes'.

Sympodial orchids can also form Keiki's but usually higher up on of the existing growths.

[RosieC]

I'm still not sure what might have gone wrong with the young cane I'm afraid Hopefully someone else will chime in.

[quiltergal]

It almost looks like black rot though it's hard to tell for sure from the pictures. If you got water into the apex or the new growth and it just sat there for a long time it could have rotted the meristem of that new cane. The leaves would be kind of squishy. It also could be sunburn or not enough water during leaf development. At any rate, all is not lost. Most sympodial plants have more than one growth "eye" per cane/bulb. Keep an eye on the other side of last cane to reach maturity. You should start to see the beginnings of a new growth soon. Since this is a Phal type Den it needs regular watering and feeding and prefers to be in a warmish spot with bright light. Obviously you don't water as often as you would in warmer months, but it shouldn't be allowed to dry out completely either.

[kjp8128]

Thank you very much I will keep an eye out for this plant. Also, I appreciate your information about how much I should water it and where it should be placed.