When to start fertilizing again

[Lilac]

I just have dendrobiums and cattleyas,a couple of oncids, 2 cyms, and a couple phals. All from the hardware and big box stores. Nothing fancy.

Even though here on the island it's always hot, two weeks ago I decided to stop feeding them the weakly,weekly method in order to give them their winter rest that I've read that they need, until the spring. I plan on just using water until then.

When should I begin feeding them again? What month is it considered 'spring'? Thanks!

[Cym Ladye]

I do not believe any of your genera want a rest period. At least if they were mine, I would not give them one. Some specific Dendrobiums may want a rest period but I do not know if you have the ones which do.

The Cyms absolutely DO NOT want a rest period as they need to get into growth mode ASAP after blooming. In fact, they are actually growing and blooming at the same time. Phals the same.

Cym Ladye

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Lilac

I just have dendrobiums and cattleyas,a couple of oncids, 2 cyms, and a couple phals. All from the hardware and big box stores. Nothing fancy.



Even though here on the island it's always hot, two weeks ago I decided to stop feeding them the weakly,weekly method in order to give them their winter rest that I've read that they need, until the spring. I plan on just using water until then.



When should I begin feeding them again? What month is it considered 'spring'? Thanks!

There are some Dendrobiums that might require a winter rest, but your plants probably do not. As Cym ladye advised, you can care for your plants as you would any other time of year. You are fortunate that you can probably grow them outdoors and let the weather water them. I would observe their light requirements--Oncidium, Cattleya, Cymbidium like bright light, Phalaenopsis like bright shade. I continue to feed my plants weekly weakly.

Without any regard to the Spring equinox, spring in my part of the world comes when overnight temperatures stay above freezing for longer than a week and it is safe to plant tomatoes. Some years that means April but last year, it was the middle of May. Your location probably has Spring-like temperatures in March?

[tucker85]

Fertilizer does not cause plants to grow, it supports plant growth. So if your orchids are growing, you can fertilize. If they are not growing right now, don't fertilize.

[Lilac]

Thanks CymLadye, Matt,Tucker.

Yes we do have a warming up in March which is spring like.

Since the temps here right now are cooler all around and are dropping at night. Not too much, but more so than in the summer months.

It might be my imagination, but they seem to be sort of at a standstill of sorts. They look fine, just as though they're not into much growing right now. At least not as they were in the summer months.

I think what I'll do is just give then a weak 20-20-20 solution, which is a general purpose I think. Then in late March I may start with the leaf and root and then as I see development I may add the blooming one, and see how that goes.

[euplusia]

Many of the care tips published here are for growers 50° up north. Under the tropics things are far less pronounced. It is more important to feel what the plant makes than to do what prudent manuals recommend.