Dendrobium Dormancy Questions

[scy]

I have a dendrobium phal-type (purchased in bloom exactly one year ago), a dendrobium victoria-reginae (never bloomed), and a dendrobium miyakei (never bloomed). According to the seller said that the miyakei may bloom this year or the next year and the victoria-reginae is expected to bloom next year or the year after. I have attached photos of each.

I would like to know more about their caring for them in the fall - winter period as I know that some dens are dormant. I am growing them indoors on an east facing window in NJ. The current temps are 60s during the day and 50s at night. My winter temps are 50s during the day and 45 at night. I will use a heating pad to help keep temps up a bit. They are all potted in a medium bark mix (med bark chips, sponge rock, charcoal). In the summer, I watered by soaked them for 15 minutes once a week.

1. When is it best to remove the sheer curtain to give them more light?
2. Just confirming - victoria reginae & miyakei go through dormant period, den phal does not, right?
3. When do I start reducing watering for their dormant period?
4. The den victoria has active root growth within the pot and the keiki reaching into the pot. Can I continue to water as I have been (soaking in 1/4 strength fertilizer for 15 min)?
5. The den miyakei is showing active growth (keiki growing nicely). Should I continue to water as I have been? (Same watering as den victoria reginae)
6. The den phal is not really putting out anymore leaves and looks the same the past few weeks. Do I need to stop fertilizing at this point?
7. Do I need to do anything special to get any of these dens to bloom?

Thank you for your advice!

Here are some photos of the 3 dendrobiums:

Dendrobium phal-type:


Dendrobium miyakei:


Dendrobium victoria-reginae:

[WhiteRabbit]

Neither den-phals, nor victoria-reginae need a 'rest'. I do allow my den-phals to dry completely before watering in winter, which I don't during the rest of the year. I never allow victoria-reginae to dry completely. I fertilize den-phals and v-r year round.
I don't know about dendrobium miyakei, tho found this info on IOSPE PHOTOS -

They need a slight lessening of water and a cessation of fertilizer through the winter months and resuming with the onset of spring and prefer a semishaded situation.

I wouldn't expect a sheer curtain to be necessary for the den-phal at all (they like quite bright light). I have read that victoria-reginae does like some increased light in winter, tho honestly, mine grows in the same spot year round, actually more shaded in winter than other times of year, and it did bloom this spring - tho it gets a fairly good deal of sun in summer (perhaps too much, as I have some VERY red foliage on it lol)

gl!

[scy]

Thanks for your input! When should I start watering less? Start around December? I put the sheer curtain on during the summer, since the leaves were burning. If it's still actively growing, should I still reduce watering and stop using fertilizer? The victoria reginae only has 1 cane and a keiki growing from it. If it's not blooming size yet, can I keep watering as normal?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by scy

The victoria reginae only has 1 cane and a keiki growing from it. If it's not blooming size yet, can I keep watering as normal?

No rest for victoria-reginae (from IOSPE PHOTOS)

They need to be kept evenly humid and moist throughout the year

I'm not sure about dendrobium miyakei - IOSPE says 'a slight lessening of water, and cessation of fertilizer through the "winter months" - I'd take that as Dec., Jan., Feb. - I would expect this one to be deciduous, so watch for when it starts to drop foliage.
Hopefully someone familiar with this species can help out. more.

In general, due to cooler temps, my orchids all get watered less often during winter, just because the media dries more slowly - I'd get skewers in the media to help you determine how often to water in the colder weather.
Den-phals can just become dry before watering again. Victoria-reginae should never be completely dry.

gl!