From our perspective, the most critical signs of trouble begin underground, where you cannot easily see. Our roots are our lifeline, responsible for water and nutrient uptake and for anchoring us securely. Healthy Dendrobium roots should be firm, plump, and have distinctive silvery-green tips when dry, turning a vibrant green after watering. When we are overwatered or develop root rot, this vital system is compromised. You will notice our roots becoming soft, mushy, and brown or black. The outer velamen layer (the spongy coating) may slough off easily when touched, leaving behind a thin, stringy inner core. A distinct, unpleasant, musty, or sour odor emanating from the potting medium is a definitive signal from us that anaerobic bacteria and fungi are actively decomposing our root system.
Our leaves and pseudobulbs are the most visible indicators of our overall health and act as water storage organs. When our roots are failing due to excess moisture, they can no longer deliver water to the rest of our structure, ironically causing us to show signs of dehydration from within. You will observe our leaves becoming limp, flaccid, and wrinkled, often described as leathery or puckered. They may yellow from the base upwards or develop large, soft, black spots or blotches. Similarly, our pseudobulbs, which should be plump and smooth, will begin to shrivel, wrinkle, and lose their turgor pressure. This is a desperate attempt by us to use our internal water reserves to survive since we can no longer draw moisture from our compromised roots.
Our primary purpose is to grow and reproduce, which requires a tremendous amount of energy. When we are forced to constantly fight for survival against root rot, we must divert all our resources to basic functions, halting growth and flowering. You will see that our new growths, such as leads or canes, emerge weakly, remain significantly smaller than previous growths, or fail to develop altogether. The plant enters a state of preservation. Furthermore, the energy required to produce a flower spike is substantial. A chronically overwatered Dendrobium will often enter a perpetual vegetative state, refusing to bloom for multiple seasons as it simply lacks the root structure and metabolic health to support such an energetically expensive endeavor.
If the conditions of overwatering and root rot persist without intervention, our decline will become systemic. The rot will spread from the roots upward into the rhizome and eventually the pseudobulbs themselves. Once the pseudobulbs, our central storage organs, become soft, mushy, and discolored, the damage is often fatal. At this advanced stage, the structural integrity of the entire plant collapses. Leaves may drop prematurely, and the plant will become loose in its pot as the anchoring root system has completely disintegrated. This represents a point of no return where we can no longer sustain ourselves.
