Orchids,Dendrobiums and their particularities!

[allaKAZAAM]

I have a few Dendros and they have been in a growth cycle for at least 6 months now (actually since I was given them..they have been in vegative cycle for over 2 years from what I was told by the previous "caretaker").
I read in the "Complete Guide to Orchids" (AOS), that Dendros need a "dry spell" in order to induce the flowering cycle (based on their "wild" growth habits).
My questions are...is this correct and how often should I water/fertilize during this dry spell.
Will this apply to other species like the Oncidium (Burrageara Jungle Moss) or the Miltassia (Royal Robe Jerry's Pick)?
Another issue I have is with a recent aquisition...it is a (as far as I can tell) Brassia gireoudiana or very close to this variant. The leaves have a lot of black spots (little ones), and some of them have what looks to be like "rust craters" mixed into the black spots. I really don't want to use chemicals (since my bedroom IS my "greenhouse"), it was suggested to use Hydrogen Peroxicide bought from a drugstore. I tested it out on the leaves and it didn't kill/effect them. Is this a correct procedure or is there a better way to be rid of this "leaf spot fungus or bacterial brown spot"?

Thanks for any responses!

allaKAZAAM

[Ross]

While I don't grow many Dendros (long story) I do grow one that is deciduous and requires a winter rest, D. anosmum. This one requires total rest which means NO water of fertilizer from about end of October to end of Feb. On the other hand D. aberrans (a mini) does not want to rest and drops leaves only when they have lost their usefulness to the plant. The Phalenopsis type Dendros don't want a rest either. So the point is there are 6 groups of Dendrobiums based on their cultural needs (classified by Rebecca Tyson Northern). Within these 6 groups there are spp that require a hard winter rest (no water), there are spp that need no winter rest but just a slight reduction in water, there are spp that want a short suspension in watering at a certain time of year and there are spp that need no rest at all.

As for the Brassias, the simple answer is that the leaves were probably sprayed. They, generally don't like that and will develope those black spots. It could be a fungus of some sort but I doubt it. Most common culprit is spraying with water. I've quit misting any of my upstairs orchids. If they don't get total submersion (like some of the minis) then they stay dry on top.

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[cb977]

Not all Dens need a winter rest. Here's a link to some great Dendrobium information...it's 12 pages long if you decide to print it

Dendrobium Orchids and Grow Orchids with Bribie Island Orchid Society

[justatypn]

Bet me to it Sue...a great sourse of information. Dends are in a group of there own, they make many happy grower and many angry growers. As for mine...sounds more like what your experiencing and as for Sue...she had the heads up on the rest period and her latest dend flourished with blooms and made her

This is pretty much my rule of thumb for growing dends ... Evergreen type require heavy watering in the spring and summer as new growth matures by fall watering should be somewhat curtailed, but don't let the canes shrivel back. Nobile or pendulous dend require abundand watering during the growing season and as the foliage drops they require a definite rest period in the fall through winter (October-February)..