Which orchids in YOUR collection get a winter rest?

[Florida_guy_26]

They do stay compact, and even specimen sized plants are smaller and more compact growing. The person you got it from sounds like they gave good advice and I told you how mistreating my plants worked, but you will find what works for you. It may be easier at this point to just let it come into growth and start feeding at every other watering or something. I feed mine all spring and summer and give the occasional pot flushing with some sink water. They do have lots of energy during growth and then flowering lasts for a few months. Maybe try blooming it after the winter season this coming fall and try not watering at all and see how that works.

[gnathaniel]

Hi folks, I haven't found cessation of watering to be terribly important in blooming this type of dendrobium, at least not in my climate. I have a fairly cool room (winter nights between mid-60s and mid-50s F) that also has one of the brightest windows in my house, and I get great blooms from a number of species and hybrids even with watering all winter long. Of course, one of 3 my loddigesii plants hasn't gotten below 65 F this winter and it's budding out first of them so go figure...

I do reduce watering somewhat simply because temps are cooler and without as many leaves the plants don't need much moisture. I definitely don't let the pseudobulbs shrivel at all, though.

These links are a good general primer on culture of this group:
General Care
Hints
The information applies most to complex hybrids involving nobile, but I've found it works just about as well for the species of this section I grow. The main difference with some of the species is that they may need more or less time at the cooler temps. I find that 2 months or less of night temps in the low 60s-upper 50s F, followed by a warm-up period of a few weeks in the mid 60s, is usually sufficient to induce good bloomings. Watering is usually 1-2x/week depending on light levels during the cool period, increasing to 3-4x/week once I warm them up. YMMV, of course!

--Nat

[Vanda lover]

I'm going to give that a try next season, because the other way just hasn't been working. Unfortunately, I only have a sprig of a plant to work with now, since I froze it last fall!

[aberstwyth]

Camille, I am surprised that you give Den kingianum a rest, but then maybe your climate is colder than mine (Melbourne, Aust), where we only get an occasional frost. I hang mine up, use a free draining mix, and water nearly every day, and it thrives. In its natural habitat though, it can tolerate extended dry periods, but you are the first one I have heard of to give it a rest period

[Adrianna]

the ten phal´s i have rest in summer time,because in winter they are with an AGA that always keep the temperature constant at 24 degrees,so when we turn off the AGA is in summer time the temperature is lower,more or less 20during the day and 18 at night and then the phals rest

[denvervet]

This was a very HELPFUL article, thanks for posting it, I think I only have one that needs a rest.

[denvervet]

Ok, I have a question, I have a cane-like Dendrobium and the tag says "Den. Spring Doll "sweetheart" Hcc/Ads".......that's all it says, need a rest?

[gnathaniel]

Hi denvervet, Dendrobium Spring Doll is a hybrid involving species like moniliforme and nobile, so it is in the group generally said to need a rest. I've found this type of hybrid to be very tolerant and easy to bloom without an extreme seasonal variation, some of them will start pushing buds after just a few weeks of nights below 60 F. Should be easy to grow if kept warm and wet while actively growing with a cool and drier (not bone-dry) period of 1-3 months after growths mature. Hope this helps!

--Nat

[denvervet]

Thanks a lot Nat. I had it where it was getting morning sun but recently moved it to very bright light under a skylight, I don't think it liked the hot summer sun it was getting. The leaves seem to be very light green, but its got flower spikes!

[jeem132]

dendrobium aggregatum aka lendeyi var majus and my dendrobium aggregatum var jikinsii and also dendrobium kingianum. most spiecies dendrobium by what i here require a winter rest. i would like if some one could post there method for winter rest as there is much controversy on what "rest" means. do you with hold all water or just sum or do u just with hold fertilizer