Winter care - Orchid Board

MACH5 · #1 08-25-2012, 08:08 PM

Hello,

I would like to ask for some opinions/suggestions on Winter care.

I have a Dendro lindleyi that is currently growing outside. Come wintertime I plan to bring inside a room that I can keep rather cool (lows around high 50s at night) until Spring. This room is ideal because it gets lots of bright light. I would like to keep my other Catts in this same room. BUT... will this room be too cool for them?? The highs in this room I'm guessing will probably be around mid 60s.

Thanks so much!

WhiteRabbit · #2 08-25-2012, 10:55 PM

Sounds like your 'cool' room will still be warmer than my house! hehe - I really wouldn't expect upper 50s at night (we have mid - lower 50s at night in summer here!), mid 60s day to be harmful. My home is cool in winter and the inside plants (Some Catt alliance intergenerics included) are fine - I also have some Catts that stay outside all winter taking much lower temps.

Depends on the species, or parents if a hybrid of course, but I really wouldn't think the temps you mentioned would be a problem for any - some truly 'hot' growers might grow slowly, any others probably wouldn't miss a beat.

MACH5 · #3 08-26-2012, 12:22 AM

Ok thank you Sonya! I'm really glad to hear that! My challenge I guess is to try and keep my Dendro cool enough during the winter months. My understanding is that this is one of the prerequisites for them to bloom well in the spring.

WhiteRabbit · #4 08-26-2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MACH5

Ok thank you Sonya! I'm really glad to hear that! My challenge I guess is to try and keep my Dendro cool enough during the winter months. My understanding is that this is one of the prerequisites for them to bloom well in the spring.

good luck! I recently got a Den jenkinsii (very similar to lindleyi) and am hoping to do right by it as well

isurus79 · #5 08-26-2012, 06:54 PM

I agree with Sonya, those temps should be fine for all the Catt species.

MACH5 · #6 08-26-2012, 06:57 PM

Thank you! I hear they tend to be challenging since they require very specific wintertime requirements. Good luck with yours as well : )

MACH5 · #7 08-27-2012, 09:19 AM

Thanks Steve. I have one more question. For the Dendro, I need to keep it quite dry during its winter rest. However what about humidity? Would it hurt to put a humidifier in the room? I am just concerned with my other Catts. Or should I just place the Catts on a humidity tray or not worry too much about it at all??

flexdc · #8 08-27-2012, 06:09 PM

MACH5,
I have a lindleyi x jenkinsii. I grow it outside year round. For winter, you need to basically abuse it. NO WATER between November to around February. I did exactly that. Well, it might have been splashed by a rain drop or two. Night time temp went down to 45 F a few nights last winter here in LA. Humidity was kind of low too! It was hung on a very exposed western wall from Nov to April (Sun from around 1 to 4 pm). I then gave it some heat and it bloomed profusely. Here are pics of the resting and blooming plant.
Good luck to you...
Andrew

Plant in February

Plant in June

isurus79 · #9 08-27-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MACH5

Thanks Steve. I have one more question. For the Dendro, I need to keep it quite dry during its winter rest. However what about humidity? Would it hurt to put a humidifier in the room? I am just concerned with my other Catts. Or should I just place the Catts on a humidity tray or not worry too much about it at all??

I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you can give 50% or more humidity, that is fine. Any less might require some intervention of some sort. A sopping wet atmosphere is definitely not required though!

MACH5 · #10 08-27-2012, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flexdc

MACH5,
I have a lindleyi x jenkinsii. I grow it outside year round. For winter, you need to basically abuse it. NO WATER between November to around February. I did exactly that. Well, it might have been splashed by a rain drop or two. Night time temp went down to 45 F a few nights last winter here in LA. Humidity was kind of low too! It was hung on a very exposed western wall from Nov to April (Sun from around 1 to 4 pm). I then gave it some heat and it bloomed profusely. Here are pics of the resting and blooming plant.
Good luck to you...
Andrew

Plant in February

Plant in June

Thanks Andrew for sharing your pics and the growing tips! Beautiful and great job with it!! I unfortunately burned some leaves on mine, but now is fully acclimated to sunlight. Glad to see it in a pot instead of mounted. I was starting to wonder if I needed this orchid mounted or not. Do the flower spikes come from the base of the Pbulbs or from the juncture of the Pbulb and leaf??