From a plant's perspective, the cane (also known as a pseudobulb) is a vital organ for survival and future growth. It is a thickened stem specifically designed for water and nutrient storage. During the flowering period, the orchid expends a tremendous amount of energy to produce and sustain its blooms. This energy is drawn directly from the reserves stored within the canes. After the flowers fade, these same canes are not spent or useless; they transform into the plant's primary energy factories and reservoirs. They continue to photosynthesize, creating new energy from sunlight, and they store water and nutrients to support the development of new growths and to help the plant withstand periods of drought or stress.
Immediately after flowering, the plant's priority shifts from reproduction back to vegetative growth and resource accumulation. The green, photosynthetically active canes are paramount to this process. Cutting them off prematurely would be akin to removing a pantry full of food right after a period of famine. The plant must use its existing foliage, including the leafy canes that just flowered, to generate the carbohydrates needed to fuel the production of new roots and a new lead growth (or "pup"). This new growth will eventually develop its own cane and become the next flowering site.
Even after a cane has served its purpose in supporting a new growth and that new growth has matured, its role is not over. Older, leafless canes, often called "back bulbs," remain crucial lifelines for the plant. They act as emergency insurance reserves. If the orchid experiences root loss due to rot, extreme dehydration, or a physical accident, it can mobilize the stored moisture and nutrients from these older canes to survive the crisis and generate new roots. This built-in survival mechanism is a key evolutionary adaptation for epiphytic plants like dendrobiums that grow on trees and face irregular water availability.
It is natural for canes to eventually senesce, or die off, but this is a process the plant controls itself. A cane will typically turn yellow, then brown, and become papery and hollow over a period of years. Only when a cane has fully yellowed and dried out completely has the plant reabsorbed all available resources from it. At this point, the cane is biologically defunct and can be gently removed at the base without harming the plant. This is the only scenario where removal is beneficial, as it may improve air circulation and reduce hiding places for pests.
To enable the canes to perform their functions most effectively, the grower should provide optimal post-flowering care. This includes maintaining bright, indirect light to maximize photosynthesis within the canes and leaves. Watering practices should be adjusted; allow the growing medium to dry slightly between waterings, but do not withhold water for extended periods, as the plant is still actively growing and the canes need to maintain their turgor. Applying a balanced, diluted fertilizer regularly will provide the raw materials the canes need to store and later use for generating robust new growth, which will lead to future prolific flowering.
