Which orchids in YOUR collection get a winter rest?

[Florida_guy_26]

Great Kath- Let us all know how it goes.

[Leisurely]

Just a reminder to everyone that August is the month to begin with-holding all fertilizer from your Nobile types.

[Hedge]

Originally Posted by Leisurely

Just a reminder to everyone that August is the month to begin with-holding all fertilizer from your Nobile types.

Thanks, Jerry. I thought it was about now, and I have already put mine into the greenhouse for maximum diurnal temperature variation, a lot better than in the house anyway. It is in S/H so I still water, don't I?

[RosieC]

I have a unicum/nobile hybrid (mostly unicum I think). Should I treat this the same as nobile for the winter rest?

Mine is in the greenhouse so it's getting a temp drop already overnight. Didn't realise I should be with-holding fertiliser now though so I'll start doing that. Do I also need to water less from now on or does that come later?

This is the first year I've had any which need a winter rest so I'm really new to the process and did not realise it starts so early.

[RosieC]

Hedge, I think I read that for winter rest in S/H you can perhaps lower the 'wet line' to somewhat reduce water, but otherwise you need to keep watering as that's what the roots are expecting.

I can't say for certian though as a) first year with ANY for a winter rest, b) first year with S/H, c) none of my winter rest ones are in S/H.

[Leisurely]

Rosie, in your area I would continue regular water as long as the weather is warm. About November I cut back and gradually quit watering until I see buds starting which is usually around Christmas. Give them baby sips until you know you have buds and not keikis.

Hedge, I don't grow anything using the semi hydroponics method so I don't know how you rest a plant or if you can.
Cool weather is one of the major things that sets buds on nobiles so you might subject them to the forties at night if possible. There must be a lot of members who grow S & H that can provide some answers.

[Hedge]

Originally Posted by Leisurely

Hedge, I don't grow anything using the semi hydroponics method so I don't know how you rest a plant or if you can.
Cool weather is one of the major things that sets buds on nobiles so you might subject them to the forties at night if possible. There must be a lot of members who grow S & H that can provide some answers.

Thanks Jerry!
Last year this plant spent October/November bare rooted to dry out after previous mistreatment by its former owner. I was afraid I would lose it to root rot. Whilst it was out in the green house, we had a cold snap and so imagine my surprise to find it had formed buds. So I potted it in S/h and started watering it and feeding it again. It has seen made really good growth since, growing two new canes, and I am in hope that it will flower well again this year

[RosieC]

Interesting about how cold you say it should go. I'm hoping to keep my green house at arround that temp minimum over the winter so I'll leave it out there rather than bringing it in with the phal type dens.

We've actually had quite a cold snap recently getting as low as 54F in the greenhouse.

[Hedge]

Ouch, We are a little warmer than that here, must be the coastal influence ( I live near the Humber estuary) it has been down to 59F/15C in mine.

[RosieC]

Yeah, we've had predictions of 8C (46F) overnight but the Min/Max thermomiter has only recorded 12C (54F).

I'm bringing the Onc Alliance and Dens that don't want a winter rest inside later today I think.