Which orchids in YOUR collection get a winter rest?

[Vanda lover]

Yes, superbum does need a rest.

[OrchidPants]

I'm not quite sure what rest means though. I know it means no water, but what about light?

[Vanda lover]

Put it on a bright, cool window sill and give it only enough water to keep it from shriveling. The late winter sunshine helps stimulate it in to bloom. When you see any growth, water it again and begin to feed.

[OrchidPants]

Cool. Thanks for the advice!

[Vanda lover]

You are welcome. The dendrobiums do bloom for quite a while, so I guess they are worth the extra care

[Orchideetje]

Thank you for sharing your lists.

I recently got 2 orchids and I have learned that they are probably Dendrobiums, until now NoID. They have some pleated leaves due to a lack of water. Should I give them a winter rest and less water now? Or would it be better to let them recover first and maybe skip the winter rest?

[Vanda lover]

It depends on what kind of dendrobium they are. The phalaenopsis type of dendrobium don't need a rest.
I've never had a den get pleated leaves but oncidium do quite easily.

[Orchideetje]

Unfortunately I'm not sure which kind it is yet. I don't think it's a phalaenopsis type. At the moment, the plants are not in bloom, so it's difficult to tell...

[Vanda lover]

I have the same problem with one of mine. A friend bought it at an orchid show because it was less expensive then the others. It was not only in lousy shape, but she neglected to ask what kind it is or how to care for it. I told her that I am pretty sure it needs a rest and she has no place to give it one. It's mine now, but I am still not positive it is a nobile. It looks different then the one I have. I don't expect bloom this year from it.

[Otterinaround]

I'm having a horrible time figuring out the watering/ wintering requirements of my gaggle of orchids. The species vary greatly which has never been an issue. Moving them inside before a low in the 30's seems to have done some mincing...

All of my mounted orchids where growing like wildfire.. ROOTS everywhere.. to the point of being annoying.

Now INDOORS with the new air-handler and a shift over from AC to heating.... the humidity at home has plummeted. I keep them all localized so that the micro-climate has a degree of humidity but the worrying part is how these roots look.

The fleshy green jade and wonderful-ness has SIGNIFICANTLY slowed if not stopped. I find I am in a panic constantly checking back to see if I should spritz them with a mist of water. Worried about wrinkles on leaves and in psuedo bulbs that I have JUST dragged back from the prune looking abyss.

Moisture trays abound but with the light intermittent at best and skies overcast to the point of dusk all day at it's worst!
I'm thinking Global warming is going to be the death of my nerves.(yes I refuse florescent bulbs! Burning fossil fuels that screw up orchids and habitat to make sun that comes naturally is inherently wrong)

Anyone have any experience in shifting humidity and temperatures due to new fangled household climate control?

Anyone have a suggested heating schedule that may help with this? I can dial it in to the degree for the time periods across the day. I wonder should I stress about heats relation to solar footprint or is this overdoing it?

Should we also account for heating and the offset of solar energy when wintering our chids in our homes? Can there be some magic formula for this? Does anyone know it?