Which orchids in YOUR collection get a winter rest?

[FranningtonBear]

Hi there!

Complete newbie to the board and fairly new Orchid grower as well.

I am a windowsill grower with a small orchid collection and no fancy set-up however it seems to *mostly* work for me!! I rest my orchids by moving them to a cooler location in my home, reducing water and withholding fertiliser. Does this sound sufficient please?

As far as I am aware I DO NOT need to rest the following-
Phalenopsis (many since these are the most available in the UK)
Dendrobium Phalenopsis

I DO NEED to rest -
Dendrobium Nobile
Oncidium Twinkle Mona
Another, unidentified Oncidium

But, please, what about -
Cattleya Yellow Bird?
Dendrobium Harvey Annum?
Burrgerrea Nelly Isla?

Thanks in advance!

[Roberta]

First, welcome!

I think, of that list, the only things that need a winter rest are Den nobile And Den. harveyanum (note spelling, it's a species). Oncidiums and their relatives should never dry out. Cattleyas don't need or want it either.

For the two Dendrobiums, along with greatly reduced water, a chill is helpful. So if you have a spot right next to the window, they would benefit. Since the house will be quite dry with winter heat reducing humidity, you will need to give a little bit of water occasionally to those Dendrobiums. (In nature they get little or no rain in winter but do get dew and humidity, so don't be TOO severe)

[alecStewart1]

Maybe this is just me, but it might be useful for anyone collecting Neofinetia:

• In mid/late fall winter, hold off on watering.
• If the medium is completely dry (crunchy, crispy, bone dry, etc.), immediately water.
• Neos don't really need their medium soaked in these cooler times, in fact it's probably better if they're not soaked at all. Think of the medium being "moist" and not "wet."
• If need be, back off on humidity. 40-50% is probably fine. The medium shouldn't stay moist for super long periods of time. Remember, you want the medium to dry out some but not completely.
• If growing indoors, depending on where you live, placing plants near South or East facing window might be best, as it could help with drying out the medium, especially with moss mounds.
• If growing in moss, it shouldn't get crispy/crunchy dry.
• You likely won't see much if any new growth on your plants.
• Toward the end of winter (like the end of the last month of winter), you can start fertilizing again.
• Neos can handle a light frost but it's definitely not preferable/desirable.

Let me know if any of that is bad advice or incorrect.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by alecStewart1

Maybe this is just me, but it might be useful for anyone collecting Neofinetia:

Let me know if any of that is bad advice or incorrect.

I don't see Neofinetia falcata among the list of plants in the original inquiry. I'm not going to hijack the thread for comments on the Neos... There are quite a few "yes but" additions to the generalities... learned from experience. Needs to be in another thread.

[alecStewart1]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Needs to be in another thread.

Ah well that's my bad for not reading. O_o woops!