wonter rest for sedirea japonica

[Talila6]

hello.
i have a nice sedirea japonica that i purchased in spike. i have repotted it in a japanese pot and in moss. it did well during the summer and grew many leaves and many new roots. i was under the impression that it needed a winter rest in colder temperature. i placed mine under lights in the basement that is about 60 degrees f. i have not watered it for two or three weeks now. The leaves are still nice and green and stiff. the roots have gone white and the moss is dry. once in a while i spray it very lightly as it is near some other plants that i spray regularly. Should i water this plant? i dont want to lose this plant by neglect. it would not be hard to move it to a warmer spot and water it. how long should it be dry?

[Bud]

During the rest period, reduce the watering slightly, but don't let it dry out too much. If you water this every other day in summer, water it weekly in winter....this kind of orchid does not need a very drastic winter rest like the Catasetinae where you withhold water for months until you get a new growth....with the way you are doing the winter rest for your Sedirea=you are going to kill it by spring instead of getting blooms.(Two or three weeks with no water is bad) But no fertilizer until it blooms.

---------- Post added at 02:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:21 AM ----------

oh, and do not place it in the basement under lights....put it where you usually have it=preferably near an east facing window (this is originally from Japan where the winter is bright because the leaves are all gone from the trees). 70F to 80F room temps are fine....60F is ideal if you have it at 70F in the day and 60F at night to induce blooms with longer spikes and more flowers. But if you cannot produce this kind of day and night temps its ok if temperature is constant....it will still bloom.

[Talila6]

Originally Posted by Bud

During the rest period, reduce the watering slightly, but don't let it dry out too much. If you water this every other day in summer, water it weekly in winter....this kind of orchid does not need a very drastic winter rest like the Catasetinae where you withhold water for months until you get a new growth....with the way you are doing the winter rest for your Sedirea=you are going to kill it by spring instead of getting blooms.(Two or three weeks with no water is bad) But no fertilizer until it blooms.

---------- Post added at 02:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:21 AM ----------

oh, and do not place it in the basement under lights....put it where you usually have it=preferably near an east facing window (this is originally from Japan where the winter is bright because the leaves are all gone from the trees). 70F to 80F room temps are fine....60F is ideal if you have it at 70F in the day and 60F at night to induce blooms with longer spikes and more flowers. But if you cannot produce this kind of day and night temps its ok if temperature is constant....it will still bloom.

Thank you! I placed the plant in west window and additional lights. I am so thankful to have received a coherent reply and I can save the plant.

[Bud]

That is good to know.
Tip: just make sure it is a foot away from the window glass....winter will freeze it at night and might burn the leaves at mid day. The morning light in a west side facing window is perfect but make sure the afternoon light will not burn it.
No need to give it additional lighting save your lamp/energy.

[Talila6]

Thank you again for the additional suggestions. The light i have is a small 22 inch one bulb grow light purchased at Menards. The plants are not really very close to the windows and don't get enough of the light My plants seem to like this set up. I even have an oncidium that is starting to spike.
I understand the concern with western exposure. The light on that side can get pretty warm in the afternoon. However, in my setup, the plants are not against the glass. There is a lace curtain in the window and the plants are at least 10 inches from window, on a plant stand.
I do hope that the Sedirea will bloom for me this spring.
i loved the blooms and their scent.
I will try to add a bit of day versus night difference in temperature with maybe a heat mat somewhere in my set up.
It is great to be able to have responses to my questions
Thanks again.

[JMLand]

Honestly I don't water my japonicas at all from mid October until I see new growth wich is usually around late February or early march. This year I got 7 spike from on of my japonicas. But my winter temps get fairly low. 55 through most of the winter with about 2 or 3 weeks going down to 50. The japonicas never seem to mind a bit