Which orchids in YOUR collection get a winter rest?

[Samheartsorchids]

Ok, so I had no idea that my Den needed a "rest" during winter..... I still have no idea what all to do that counts as a rest. hahaha I'm afraid my den won't bloom now because of my lack of knowledge. I just added a new member to the small family (1 big phal,a tiny phal, a baby catt, my stubborn den) a beautiful oncidium. But I am horrible about picking the chids with almost no ID with them. So now I'm wondering who to let rest and how to do it.(and what they'er names really are.)


help?

[Florida_guy_26]

Best thing to do is let them all dry a bit more than normal. This means if you let the plants dry out toally between waterings, add an extra day or 2 before watering again or if you let them get nearly dry, to let them dry out completely for 1 day then water LIGHTLY again. The trick with winter watering is you want the roots to stop growing, therefore you should only water enough that the medium gets even moist, not sopping wet. After watering, let the plant stay in a very bright location and dry out until it is dry or close enough to moisten the medium again. All orchids I believe can be rested if done properly as all orchids in the wild get cooler temps in winter and less rain/more humidity. best thing to do is try to get condensation to get the medium moist (if you can) and give bright or direct light as long as it is not going to be too intense. I let all my orchids get direct sun for a few hours a day and they are in an aquarium - the leaves have burn spots, but every time they come into spring, you should see how well they flower and how vigorously they grow. phals can lose all but 2 leaves if they get cooler and drier rest and often times do, but will bloom and grow very well as they come into warmer weather. Dens and catts can usually dry more completely and dends may lose all but 2-3 leaves but will grow well on the next sympodial growth. Oncidium will usually keep all leaves as even 40F probably will not even phase them depending on the kind, but keep them drier and cooler in winter and you should get between 20-60 blooms (again, depending on the kind) in spring or summer.

[Samheartsorchids]

Thanks a bunch!!!

[Florida_guy_26]

For now, since you have smaller and larger orchids, is to seperate the larger ones that will bloom and give them the drier and cooler treatment. The smaller orchids should be slowly acclimated to overwintering cooler and drier as they become more mature or in their 2-3rd year. You can start early but you will get better growth and proliferation if they are NOT rested the first few years after deflasking. I keep my smaller orchids in the tank and they have stayed moist almost year round so far with one year growing about 2-3 inches in length and this year growing 5.5" on the smallest to 10" on the longest cane. next year after they stop growing I will rest those plants, but for now, they stay moist and get slightly cooler temps at night. My plants tend to get a 10-30F drop between daytime and night temps right now, and only a 10F difference if i can in summer. Keep in mind if i left plants out overnight here in mt they would be bone dry by morning and probably be very cold if i misted them late in the day. Plants should dry before sunset regardless of being inside or outside no matter of the season. Keep that info in mind for resting and you should do well.

[Kath]

On your list there's no Phals, but they need care through the winter too, don't they? I left mine in the conservatory, and one of them was severely burned from frost. I've attached a photo. What I'd like to know, is do mealy bugs die in the frost? I've been waging war against mealy bugs for a couple of years, and I think I'll give up, as when you think they've all gone, you all of a sudden notice they're back again. What to do? Cut of all the flowers? replant? grow another species? Change, and grow cactii? (only joking)

[Hedge]

Originally Posted by Kath

Change, and grow cactii? (only joking)

Meaky bugs love cacti I have had no joy trying to kill them on one of mine and it ended up in the garbage yesterday. Spells outside did seem to help but that was in the summer.

I have tried methylated spirits ( rubbing alcohol ) and Provado to no avail.

[ewcia1028]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

I have my both Dendrochillum growing in S/H, and I tried giving them a bit of rest last year, but they starting growing new PBs in November, so water non stop fpr them.. Obviously they liked it, because they are both in spike now just after spike, the PBs start growing, so I think I will keep the watering as usual...

I grow my Dendrochillum Wenzelii in Hydroton (expanded clay) and I water every other day with reverse osmosis water whole year and right now I have 13 spikes.Pot in which I grow it, has two holes an inch from the bottom of the pot so after I water ,remaining water stay there in the bottom and roots like it a lot.My whole collection of Phragmipedium grow like that and multiple and flower very good.

[ewcia1028]

Originally Posted by Hedge

Meaky bugs love cacti I have had no joy trying to kill them on one of mine and it ended up in the garbage yesterday. Spells outside did seem to help but that was in the summer.

I have tried methylated spirits ( rubbing alcohol ) and Provado to no avail.

For Mealybugs the best is 1pint of 70% rubbing alcohol,1 pint of 409 and the rest of water.

[Kath]

Originally Posted by ewcia1028

For Mealybugs the best is 1pint of 70% rubbing alcohol,1 pint of 409 and the rest of water.

Sorry to show my ignorance, but what is 409 please?? The rest I can cope with

[Hedge]

Originally Posted by Kath

Sorry to show my ignorance, but what is 409 please?? The rest I can cope with

Yes, I don't understand that one either. Also by "the rest" do you mean make up to a gallon with water?

When I used methylated spirits I applied it directly with a paintbrush and it kills on contact. It just doesn't get the ones you can't see - it also works well this way on scale insects - you apply then wipe them off on tissue paper (Kleenex)