Winter Rest

[Sandy4453]

Not quite sure if Dend. superbum and Dend. parishii (both deciduous) are supposed to stay completely dry, starting about now. Can someone advise?

Also, I stopped all fertilizing on my Dend. Nobile in August and plan to keep watering till the end of October. Is that right?



P.S. What others go through complete rest beside Catasetum?

[Jerry Delaney]

I currently grow both anosmum (superbum) an dprimulinum. I treat them just like my hybrid and species nobiles. No water, no fertilizer and cool all winter. I just moved mine to the cool part of the greenhouse today and will flush twice with plain tap water then kind of forget about them until spring. Good luck with them Sandy!

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

P.S. What others go through complete rest beside Catasetum?

all Catasetinae: Catasetum, Cycnoches, Mormodes, Clowesia, Galeandra, etc... also Calanthe (some of them), some Eulophias and "some" Lycaste (not sure if there is any species which does not do it)

[Sandy4453]

Thanks Jerry and kavanaru.

So, absolutely NO watering, starting about now?

What about those in s/h?

Originally Posted by kavanaru

(not sure if there is any species which does not do it)

Bulbophyllum?

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

What about those in s/h?

I just found an answer to my own question. For anyone else asking...
The Orchid Source Forum: One big thank you

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

Thanks Jerry and kavanaru.

So, absolutely NO watering, starting about now?

well, as for Catasetinae, I reduce watering when the first leave start becoming yelowish, and stop watering when all are yellow or are fallen (what comes first). Some times they do not start the dormancy, then it is recommended to stop watering after by 1-NOV. However, this always depends: currently I have two Catasetum which are newly imported from Italy, and the PBs are not mature yet. I will continue watering until mature!

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

Originally Posted by kavanaru
(not sure if there is any species which does not do it)

Bulbophyllum?

I was referring to species of Lycaste
On the other hand, I have never seen a Bulbo which undergoes absolut dormancy in winter... but that's a huge genus, and I think in the orchids world everything is possible

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

I just found an answer to my own question. For anyone else asking...
The Orchid Source Forum: One big thank you

Note that for those plants that go complete dormant, like Catasetinae, you should just stop watering completely. Otherwise you will risk to loose those plants to rot!

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Note that for those plants that go complete dormant, like Catasetinae, you should just stop watering completely. Otherwise you will risk to loose those plants to rot!

Kavanaru, I've been preparing myself to refrain from any watering on the Catasetums but after reading Jasens thread and seeing his pics and the success he's had with this, I'm wondering what to do. Have you ever tried this method?

From Jasen's Nun Orchid thread...

Originally Posted by gixrj18

Thank you, Sandy! These have been in medium light (55-60%) year-round, planted in fir bark mostly. During the summer, they get fertilized heavily twice a week, with a good rinse....and misted by my misters about once a day. During the winter, they get a low nitrogen fertilizer once a week. A reliable source told me you can still water them when they're dormant (and fertilize with blossom booster), as long as it drains well....and dries quick. I have stuck to this, and haven't had the first problem from it....and they are still blooming! It probably has a lot to do with the fact that we don't have much of a winter here.....who knows, it works though! I will update this thread when the other spikes bloom.

[Jerry Delaney]

Wow. What a show. Don't know what to say Sandy. I have not flowered either of the two species in question in S/H so I really can't comment. I do know that the Den anosum that I have in regular bark mix got watered last winter (some idiot forgot to move it) and while it did bloom, the blooms were few and far between and it did not completely lose it's leaves until blooming was nearly done. Jasen, I checked to see if some of those gorgeous blooms were Scotch taped on!!! What a beautiful specimen!!

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by Jerry Delaney

Wow. What a show. Don't know what to say Sandy. I have not flowered either of the two species in question in S/H so I really can't comment. I do know that the Den anosum that I have in regular bark mix got watered last winter (some idiot forgot to move it) and while it did bloom, the blooms were few and far between and it did not completely lose it's leaves until blooming was nearly done.

that's for the 'some idiot' part Jerry.
For orchids that aren't in s/h, I was told to stop watering around the end of October. I don't know if it's because I'm in Fla. and the temps by then, will have started to slightly drop? Or, maybe I was given wrong info.? When do you stop watering?

............which brings me to another question:

Are all deciduous orchids, ones that require a winter dry rest?

............and another question

In winter, for all my hard caned Dends, I cut fertilizing down to about every other watering and water on average about 10 to 14 days. What adjustments are others here in the northern hemisphere doing with their Dends. during winter?