Orchids that need winter "rest"

[cb977]

Utah, that's a way-too-generalized list

While some Dendrobiums do need a rest, others do not...as with the other names you've listed.

It's not quite time to start doing anything about their rest period anyway, so I suggest waiting for our suggestions for specific plants. If you'd like get started on your own, in my opinion the best way to do it would be to do a search here at OB using the words Winter Rest

[utah]

Originally Posted by cb977

Utah, that's a way-too-generalized list

While some Dendrobiums do need a rest, others do not...as with the other names you've listed.

It's not quite time to start doing anything about their rest period anyway, so I suggest waiting for our suggestions for specific plants. If you'd like get started on your own, in my opinion the best way to do it would be to do a search here at OB using the words Winter Rest

That's why I said it was just for MY list. The dendorbiums that I have do require a winter rest.

I'm just trying to come up with the amount of "dry" area I will need in my new greenhouse so I'm trying to figure out how many of my plants I need to keep out of the misting system

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[cb977]

Understood...but you also have your Gram scriptum listed as needing a rest...and it's not supposed to...hence my concern.

Dendrochilum uncatum is from an area that does get a reduction in rainfall during winter but they also get a lot of heavy condensation and it should be grown without a rest. I also don't know of any Cattleya hybrid that needs one.

I'm just trying to help you...please don't take offense

[utah]

Originally Posted by cb977

Understood...but you also have your Gram scriptum listed as needing a rest...and it's not supposed to...hence my concern.

Dendrochilum uncatum is from an area that does get a reduction in rainfall during winter but they also get a lot of heavy condensation and it should be grown without a rest. I also don't know of any Cattleya hybrid that needs one.

I'm just trying to help you...please don't take offense

Thanks. That's why I'm asking.

I got the information about the Gram from the AOS culture sheet:

Water: "Require plenty of water and high humidity during the growing season. All species come from distinct wet/dry habitats. Less water is required during the cooler months."

Same thing on the Cattleya:

Water: "Seasonal, high during growth season and low during rest period (usually fall-winter). Species from the Amazon (above) prefer a more uniform watering schedule throughout the year. Cattleyas like to dry out between waterings, and it helps to grow them on the dry side during Fall and Winter. These were the plants in mind when the rule ''when in doubt, do not water'' was created. "

That's why all of this gets so confusing.

Thanks, I just don't want to rot/kill the babies.

[cb977]

In general, most plants should get a slight reduction in water and fertilizers during the colder months but a winter rest is more intense than just a reduction.

Keep an eye on things here...I'm sure this conversation will pick up now that summer is just about done.

Everybody will be looking for the same information...I still get confused!

[utah]

Originally Posted by cb977

In general, most plants should get a slight reduction in water and fertilizers during the colder months but a winter rest is more intense than just a reduction.

Keep an eye on things here...I'm sure this conversation will pick up now that summer is just about done.

Everybody will be looking for the same information...I still get confused!

Nice to know I'm not the only one.

It would be nice if the books, AOS, and others would agree on things but I guess there are no easy answers with orchids.

Thanks!

[quiltingwacko]

[I'm using 'Dendrobiums and it's relatives" by Lavarack, Harris and Stocker for a reference for the Dens. They are good about saying stuff like this plant needs a few days of drying out before watering or gradual drying through the whole winter until pbulbs shrivel etc.[/QUOTE]

I love books like that, that get specific I mean.

[quiltingwacko]

Originally Posted by utah

Thanks! I figured I wasn't the only "newbie" that had this question at one time or another.

Oh you aren't the only one with that question, for sure!

[quiltergal]

It's really hard to generalize by genus. Take Dendrobium for example. There are thousands of different species and they all have different requirements. My Phal. type Den. requires no winter rest. It doesn't even like a reduction in water or fert. My Den from the Formosae group likes a very slight "pause" in the fall, but if you miss it it doesn't really seem to care and blooms anyway. I have a NOID nobile Den that I gave a hard winter rest. No water, no fert, bright light and cold temps from 10/31-2/14. It looked a little worse for wear when I brought it back in the house. It only gave me 3 measley blooms. There are nobile Dens that don't require a "hard" winter rest. They like more of a reduction,no fert and cooler temps. I'm thinking that's what I might have so I'm keeping it in the house and watering sparingly through the same time period. We'll see what happens next spring. The point here is that generalizations can be dangerous. There are always those plants who didn't know they were supposed to like a winter rest.