RESTING a Dendrobium Amethystoglossum - Orchid Board

SJJ · #1 01-07-2021, 01:22 PM

So I've been resting my dendrobium amethystoglossum since the end of October . It looks dead at this point. I have given it the occasional misting because it is so shrivelled. Should give it a bit of water? Last year I watered too much and didn't get any flowers so this fall I read not to water it at all. I'm having my doubts now. Thanks for the help!
Susan

Roberta · #2 01-07-2021, 01:35 PM

It isn't dead, but you do need to give it some water. For Dens in general that have a rest period (like Den. nobile) I have learned the hard way that the advice of "no water from Halloween to Valentine's Day" can be deadly, especially in a low-humidity environment. In nature, even if these don't get rain in winter, they get dew. In your house, there is probably not a lot of that. So while you might give water less frequently than during the growing season, you need to give some.

SJJ · #3 01-07-2021, 03:49 PM

Thank you Roberta. I just gave him some water!

neophyte · #4 01-07-2021, 06:19 PM

Yup, if you are planning on only misting throughout the resting season, you will still need to be misting very often because one misting doesn't really give provide enough water. It's probably better just to reduce regular watering so it's less than what you'd give during active growth but still an adequate amount. For these, a resting period probably means waiting for the medium to be nearly dry before you water again (which shouldn't be too long if you're growing in a basket), as opposed to what you'd give during periods of active growth, when you'd be watering enough to make sure the medium does not dry out (but is not waterlogged).