Which orchids in YOUR collection get a winter rest?

[Vanda lover]

That's right. Most people fertilize less often during the winter. Some people don't fertilize at all for the winter. I fertilize once a month at half strength. It seems to keep them happy.

[justino222]

Oh kewl! I cant wait for them to bloom

[Colleenktucson]

I'm new here and had no idea any of them need a winter rest! How would you know?

[Vanda lover]

The person who you buy your orchids from should tell you. Ask questions and study if you plan to collect them. There are thousands of kinds.

[Colleenktucson]

Well so far I've only bought them at grocery and home improvement stores. That's why I'm on this forum. I don't know beans about them but they bloom and thrive for me usually. But i only have a few easy types so far.

[Vanda lover]

usually the ones that are sold in grocery stores and home improvement stores are easy ones to grow. One thing that is important with almost all of them is that they have a cooler temperature at night to get them back into bloom. They need to feel the changing of the seasons.

[Colleenktucson]

I live in southern Arizona. Do any of them need a winter rest if they live in a warm climate?

[Raqsharqi]

Colleen, I want to say hello first, before we talk orchids. I am also a newbie orchid addict from Tucson!

I started out with just phalaenopsis, and they don't need to be "winterized." But once I knew the greenhouse was coming, I started collecting others. The following are going to need special winter handling:

Dendrobium Kingmanium
Dendrobium Superbum
Neofinetia Pinkie
Neofinetia Falcata
Maxillaria Tenniflora
and I suspect ASCF Twinkle may need reduced water, but it didn't come with any growing tips. If it is in the Neofinetia family, do I reduce water and food for a few months?

I had planned on letting my Superbum and Kingmanium go dry about mid November. The temps here are still unseasonably high, and the nights haven't gotten cooler than 58 degrees. It seems like a bad plan to have them in such warm weather without water, but this is my first year with them, so I don't know.

I have a Dendrobium I got at Trader Joe's that has no information whatsoever. I guess it is a Dendrobium because it isn't anything else and the canes look a bit like the other Dens, though this is upright and still in full bloom. Unless I read otherwise, I intend to continue with the normal watering program.

[Colleenktucson]

Hi Raqsaharqi! U have what I think are send robins too and one that I can't identify. Most of my quids are phalaenopsis. Both types are blooming right now and the phials seem to bloom all year long. Wish I had a greenhouse. How did you go about getting one?

[Raqsharqi]

I explain on the thread about my greenhouse. Mostly we got it because my husband got tired of hearing me complain about critters eating my tomatoes!