Dendrobium Anosmum seedling new growth during winter rest? - Orchid Board

orchidsunlover · #1 10-10-2019, 05:13 PM

Hello everyone, I just received my first seedling orchid of this type and wondering about some new growth that has been happening during the winter resting period.

I currently have 3 new root growth that is happening on what appears to be a new little cane that is trying to form on the cane the is currently losing its leaves for winter rest.

I currently have it on southern facing windowsill and it receives quite a bit of sunlight. The temps during the day have been around 65-70 F and night time falling to 50-55 F. I have not fertilized it from the first week of sept. And decreased the water at the beginning of oct.

Since I have new growths forming should I continue to water it regularly? Should I fertilize it? If I don't water it will the new growth survive since it is a seedling?

Thank you so much in advance!

Roberta · #2 10-10-2019, 05:22 PM

I would suggest holding off on the fertilizer, but continuing to water lightly. In nature, the "dry" period still has morning dew, so there is some moisture even if there is no rain.

Shadowmagic · #3 10-10-2019, 05:24 PM

hey orchidsunlover, I don't really have enough expereience yet with seedlings but I've got some myself and since they are only seedlings I am not giving them any rest. I certainly don't want them flowering at this size anyway. What benefit will a rest give them is my logic - I want them to grow up fast, but I am just starting out with seedlings myself so just posting what I am doing atm.

ps: I think a picture would be useful

orchidsunlover · #4 10-10-2019, 05:31 PM

Thank you Roberta.

That's what I've been doing so good to know I'm doing something right.

Would misting do the job or should I run a little water through the pot?

---------- Post added at 03:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:26 PM ----------

Hey shadowmagic! No, I really appreciate your input! I was actually thinking about going that route!

I just didn't know if that would throw the plant off in any way in the long run when the seedling finally does mature. (As in no winter rest as a seedling and then giving it one finally once it has matured)

I also wanted it to grow up strong so I can eventually bloom with lots of blooms when it is mature. Giving it a no winter's rest seemed to be the only thing that would give me those results it seemed, at least in my mind. lol

orchidsunlover · #5 10-10-2019, 05:39 PM

I tried to attach an image so you can hopefully see what I’m talking about.

Roberta · #6 10-10-2019, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orchidsunlover

Thank you Roberta.

That's what I've been doing so good to know I'm doing something right.

Would misting do the job or should I run a little water through the pot?

I think run a little water through the pot... maybe once a week or so... then it'll have a chance to dry out ib between waterings. If your humidity is low (and as the weather gets colder, indoor heating tends to make it more so) some misting between waterings should do no harm and may do some good. The bright light is excellent - in habitat, that's what happens when the cloud cover goes away during the winter drier (note, not "dry") period.

---------- Post added at 02:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:48 PM ----------

The picture helps. The bark mixture is definitely coarse enough to dry out The light touch on watering and misting should encourage those roots without risking having them too wet,

Shadowmagic, you can't force them to "grow up faster" by ignoring their basic cycle. It's important to pay attention to what happens in their natural habitat with a monsoonal weather cycle. In summer, it rains a lot, with attendant cloud cover. In winter, there is much less rain (not necessarily none), it's still humid so there is morning dew, but in the relative absence of clouds there is brighter light (the last part tends to be a challenge in the northern hemisphere with dark days) Giving them the conditions they expect is the way to get them to grow up strong.

Jeff214 · #7 10-13-2019, 05:35 PM

I have two Den anosmum keikis and I've found them to like to dry out between watering during colder months. I have it in coarse bark media and I watered it about once a week like Roebrta suggested. Wet + cool tends to spell disaster for many of my warm growing orchids...

I also had new growths start in winter and I killed it by over watering it. Just be careful and let it dry out each time.

During the warmer months, they can't seem to get enough water.