Which orchids in YOUR collection get a winter rest?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Linzysan

I have a miniature dendrobium nobile hybrid that is supposed to have a winter rest but I just got it and have been watering it regularly. It also has flowers on it. Is it too late to institute that rest?

It isn't showing any signs of slowing down, so keep up the watering at the current rate as long as it has flowers. Once the flowers drop, you can cut back the watering somewhat, but unless you see leaves start to yellow, don't push it too hard. First, it's a hybrid, and very likely part of its ancestry doesn't slow down as much as Den. nobile does. Also, it may have had its seasons manipulated with light and temperature to get it to bloom now. (A blooming orchid is worth a lot more than a bare one...) Even the species Den. nobile does not go completely dormant in my experience. When I first started out in orchids I received the advice "no water between Halloween and Valentine's Day" ... and several died before I figured out that this was too severe. I suggest that temperature drop is probably at least as important in inspiring flowers as the dry period. So once it stops blooming, perhaps put it in a sun room or on a windowsill close enough to the glass to feel a chill at night. If it doesn't show signs of blooming in the spring but waits next year until summer or fall, then you know that it has ancestry that includes fall bloomers as well as Den nobile. After a year or so in your care, it will revert to a natural cycle (whatever that may be) no matter what manipulation it may have received this year.

[Subrosa]

Since I started growing semi-hydroponically the only orchids in my collection that get a winter rest are Catasetum alliance members and a few terrestrials, plus what I grow outdoors year round.

[seagull]

i have bletilla and goodyera that go dormant all winter. my cymbs, dend nobile, and dend kingianum get a cool/dry rest for about 5 weeks starting in nov.
the nobile is setting out flower buds now

[EnchantedRealm]

Only one and that is dendrobium aggregatum/lindleyi

[mkallen81]

I have a Dendrobium Nobile Atkatsuki. Never managed to make the thing reflower despite doing dormancy in a bathroom with the window open in winter in normandy! Impossible! All she does is make keiki's! but it's ok. This year I upped the drama in my dormancy period so we will see how things go.

Melannie

[Heebs]

Sorry...newbie here..l only have phalanopsis orchids..in winter l managed to kill several by overwatering...

Are phals also do be treated differently in winter as now they can withstand and demand alot more watertering

[alaind52]

In winter, my Phalaenopsis get no real rest. The minimum temperature is 15° celsius. They stay at same place and get just a bit less water due to lower temperature in comparison with summer.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i suspect it has more to do with your culture or watering habits...phals are extreme warm growers so they don't really experience winter in most of their environments, some may get less water but it is certainly not any kind of dormancy...

how were yours potted?

[Heebs]

Originally Posted by alaind52

In winter, my Phalaenopsis get no real rest. The minimum temperature is 15° celsius. They stay at same place and get just a bit less water due to lower temperature in comparison with summer.

Thanks Alain... that's very helpful. I will reduce my watering too although lm in an apartment where temps are stable all year round but I'm sure the orchids know... and Sun may be a factor
All the best

[alaind52]

Of course it is no kind of dormancy above all for Phalaenopsis. Living now in South-West of France, days in winter are less bright and shorter. As my Phalaenopsis are in front of a window in a not very warm room, they just need a bit less water in winter. That's all.