What's the deal with dormancy?
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

What's the deal with dormancy?
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
  #1  
Old 11-11-2016, 02:06 AM
Butters Butters is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Oct 2016
Zone: 10a
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida
Age: 32
Posts: 9
What's the deal with dormancy? Male
Default What's the deal with dormancy?

Hi, all.
I keep hearing about winter dormancy. My question is about dormancy in orchids, especially in sub-tropical/tropical areas. For instance, I'm in sunny South Florida where there isn't really a winter (our seasons seem to be hot and less hot.) Unless there is a legitimate cold front coming through, temperatures where I'm at don't really get below 60 at night.

Do they still need a dormancy period? How would I know if my orchids need dormancy? A lot of them are putting out new growth of some kind.

Thank you.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-11-2016, 04:32 AM
Subrosa's Avatar
Subrosa Subrosa is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2013
Zone: 6b
Location: PA coal country
Posts: 3,353
What's the deal with dormancy? Male
Default

Some do, some don't. Some need a cooler dormancy, some don't. You're going to need to be more specific.
__________________
Be who you are and say what you think. Those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-11-2016, 07:45 AM
Ray's Avatar
Ray Ray is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2005
Member of:AOS
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 14,790
What's the deal with dormancy? Male
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Subrosa View Post
Some do, some don't. Some need a cooler dormancy, some don't. You're going to need to be more specific.
Spoken like a true orchidphile ...

Orchids are "niche" plants; their needs have evolved to what was available where they happened to land. Regions with distinct dry seasons, when food is less available to the plants, has led them to survive by going into a period of dormancy.

Relocating them to an environment that doesn't have those same conditions - even if it's to a semi-tropical climate we perceive as an improvement - is actually an increase in stress on the plant, so we try compensate by artificially adjusting the conditions as well as we can.
__________________
Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
FIRSTRAYS.COM
Try Kelpak - you won't be sorry!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-11-2016, 09:16 AM
Salixx Salixx is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2016
Zone: 5b
Location: Central Vermont
Age: 37
Posts: 560
What's the deal with dormancy? Female
Default

Just for further perspective, there are many places where the climate and zone is considered "tropical dry." For instance, if you go to the USVI, they have deciduous trees that drop their leaves at certain times of the year- the dry season. They are going dormant just as the trees where I live in New England drop their leaves and go dormant. However, they do so for different reasons.

This is where knowing your plant helps. Those from tropical dry areas may not need a temperature differences but, instead water differences. Some many need multiple environmental changes, I.e. Water restrictions and lowered temp.

*edited for poor gramma and spelling and auto correct errors (thanks iPhone!)

Last edited by Salixx; 11-11-2016 at 12:44 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-11-2016, 09:43 AM
3rdMaestro 3rdMaestro is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Oct 2016
Zone: 7b
Location: Ankara, Türkiye
Posts: 248
What's the deal with dormancy? Male
Default

I agree with salixx. Get to know your plants. You say they are still putting off growth? What kind of orchids do you have? I know for me, I have some dendrobiums that will continue growing as long as conditions permit but without the dry winter, they won't really bloom (at least for me), they'll just keep growing. By contrast, a catasetum needs a distinct rest or else risks death. If you don't know what orchids you have, maybe post a picture?

One other thing, depending on the orchid, "winter rest" doesn't necessarily mean cold. It may mean dry

Last edited by 3rdMaestro; 11-11-2016 at 09:47 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-11-2016, 09:48 AM
Butters Butters is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Oct 2016
Zone: 10a
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida
Age: 32
Posts: 9
What's the deal with dormancy? Male
Default

I have a MaxillariaTenuifolia, Encyclia Tampensis, Phal Champorensis, Iwanagara Appleblossom, a noid Phal, a noid Dendrobium, a Brassocattleya binosa x .ttl stars, a Cattleya 'Hawaiian Flare', and an angraecum 'Mark Aldridge.'

Would any of these need a dormancy period? (Maybe this is how I should have started it. Sorry guys, I'm still learning.)

Ray, that makes since. Even in South Florida there is a well defined dry season.

I didn't even think about it being a a stressor for them. So used to creature comforts that we have that I just assumed (you know what happens when you assume...) that's all they would need.

Last edited by Butters; 11-11-2016 at 10:25 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-11-2016, 09:54 AM
WalkingHorse WalkingHorse is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 38
What's the deal with dormancy?
Default

As has been said, "It depends". I highly recommend Florida Orchid Growing - Month By Month by Dr. Martin Motes. Very readable and written from the perspective of an orchid grower in southern Florida.
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes estación seca liked this post
  #8  
Old 11-11-2016, 10:46 AM
Roberta's Avatar
Roberta Roberta is offline
Super Moderator
 

Join Date: Jun 2008
Zone: 10a
Location: Coastal southern California, USA
Posts: 12,803
What's the deal with dormancy? Female
Default

Just looking at your list, the only plant that could have even "semi-dormancy' is the Dendrobium, and that depends on what kind. If the Den-phalaenopsis type (which is a good bet) it doesn't. The Angraecum could probably use a bit of reduction in water but doesn't need it (I looked it up, actually Angcm. Memoria Mark Aldridge) and its parents are from the warm, wet part of Madagascar. But just in general, in winter when days are shorter and a bit cooler, things just don't dry out as fast, so reducing water to match the rate of drying is what you would want to do anyway. But none of these look to me like the ones that want drastic change. If one of those cold fronts is forecast, don't water! An orchid can survive a cold jolt if it is dry. Cold and wet is bad news.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-11-2016, 12:13 PM
Leafmite's Avatar
Leafmite Leafmite is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Sep 2010
Zone: 5b
Location: Ohio
Posts: 10,847
What's the deal with dormancy?
Default

If you get any cool, wet weather, be sure to use a fungus preventative on the Angraecum (unless you are already dosing it with extra Calcium). They tend to be rather prone to fungus attacks during cool, rainy weather.

I agree, though, with what has been said. None of what you have appears to need a winter rest if the Dendrobium is a Phal-type. Cooler temperatures mean that the medium and leaves do not dry as quickly and fungus can flourish so you just need to keep that in mind.
__________________
I decorate in green!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-11-2016, 12:27 PM
Ray's Avatar
Ray Ray is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2005
Member of:AOS
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 14,790
What's the deal with dormancy? Male
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 3rdMaestro View Post
One other thing, depending on the orchid, "winter rest" doesn't necessarily mean cold. It may mean dry
I'll take that a step further - as I've learned from semi-hydroponic culture, "winter rest" doesn't actually mean cold or dry, it means no nitrogen.

With plants in S/H, folks are successful when allowing the pots to dry, or when watering normally, but avoiding all fertilizer until new growth resumes.
__________________
Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
FIRSTRAYS.COM
Try Kelpak - you won't be sorry!
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 2 Likes
Likes Salixx, bil liked this post
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
dormancy, orchids, deal


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Question about Catasetum dormancy Cloud_gardener Beginner Discussion 3 02-09-2016 12:58 AM
I need advice! Craigslist deal gone terribly wrong! Mandy2705 Pests & Diseases 33 01-26-2015 11:43 PM
Monn Millenium Magic Witchcraft skipped dormancy KristenReuel Catasetum and Stanhopea Alliance 12 08-20-2014 05:22 PM
stanhopea dormancy Mo Boggie Beginner Discussion 1 04-29-2014 12:57 PM
Hydroton Deal? Ben Belton Semi-Hydroponic Culture 5 12-02-2011 11:22 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:29 AM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.