Some confusion on winter time and watering - Orchid Board

littleone · #1 11-03-2014, 09:45 AM

I came here to ask about what I should do differently, if anything for winter for my orchids. They have been growing very slowly this year but I have been watering them by dunking them for a few minutes , 2 -3 times a week in water and once a week that water has some fertilizer food in it.

Now that it is getting colder, I don't think I need to water them that much or should I just continue on? How do I know if I need water less and how much less? I also saw in the winter rest thread that people mentioned they were "misting" their orchid - so is this just a few sprays of plain water onto the plant and that's all it needs?

These are my first plants and they have made it this far with me so I want them to survive their first winter!

silken · #2 11-03-2014, 10:57 AM

First of all we need to know what kind of orchids you are growing. Some orchids need definite cool dry rests and others need rather constant temps and grow year round. So it really depends on what you have.

Leafmite · #3 11-03-2014, 12:01 PM

I never follow a schedule for watering my orchids. I water them when they need it. If you use bark or sphagnum moss, you can weigh the pot when it is wet and when it is dry and that can help you tell when it needs watered.
The medium plays a part in how quickly a plant dries. When it starts to decompose, it may dry more slowly in the middle and bottom where it is more compact. Home temperatures, humidity levels and the amount of light also factor in the equation.

littleone · #4 11-03-2014, 01:13 PM

I keep mine inside and it has orchid mix bark pieces that they are planted it. I have four -

one is a generic phal from a grocery store, it's my biggest.

three are in little pots 3 inches wide and one of them is a dendrobium helix. Although last time I posted a pic here and people were saying it's not a dendrobium helix - i am obviously just going by what the stick from the store says. It has not flowered or anything so I don't know I just have leaves so far. The other two I am not sure what they are because I don't recognize or they dont look like genus species names but maybe the store did their own crossing? They are named "slc miss wonderful sib cross Large lavendar splash tall spikes from L anceps" and the other one is " P Sea Dreams Bill's Choice x Dtps Bill's Charisma, large whites, orange lip)"

I realize this information might not be that helpful but maybe it can help me get more advice here.

I have been following a schedule ( had these since march or april) to water them since at first they were underwatered and scheduling makes it easy for me to form a habit .

They get a medium to low amount of light sitting inside a window facing north, north east.

silken · #5 11-03-2014, 01:44 PM

So it sounds like you have a Dendrobium of unknown species. Also a Cattleya hybrid which is the Slc. Miss Wonderful and two Phalaenopsis. One is the NOID Phal. and the other is the P. Sea Dreams "Bill's Choice x Dtps. Bill's Charisma

For Phals, I water them approx. every week, but as Leafmite mentions, that depends if they need it or not. I put a bamboo kebab skewer in most of my pots and leave them. Pull them out to see how wet they are to help determine if it's time to water. Then put them back into the same place in the pot. For Phals, I like the middle and bottom of the pot to get just dry or very close before a good watering. If you have clear pots you can see the roots. If they are green, they are still wet and if silvery colour, they are dry.

For the Cattleya, it will likely need more light than you are giving in order for it to thrive and bloom. They are fairly high light plants. They also like to be drier before being watered. I let mine get fairly dry before watering and have a good open airy mix of medium bark with lots of holes in the pot. I don't leave them dry for long tho.

For the Den, until you have an idea what it is, it's hard to say if it needs a dry cool winter rest or not. Some are quite warm growing and others won't bloom without that winter rest. If it bloomed on a spike from the top of the plant, it is likely a warmer growing one. You can Google different Dens and try and compare the bloom to yours.

Phals are fairly low light growers and prefer warmer temps. However in the fall, a few weeks of cooler temps often initiates a spike. If they are at room temps now, then sitting on a cooler windowsill or a cool room for a few weeks might help. When plants are kept cool, they shouldn't be too wet or root rot could occur.

Some Cattleyas do require a cool drier rest but most hybrids do fine in room temp but with good light such as overhead or an Eastern window.

I don't like to mist my plants as it can cause spots and bacterial infection if they don't dry quickly. Good moving air is essential for all the orchids.

I hope that helps.

littleone · #6 11-03-2014, 03:31 PM

Thank you! that does give me a much better starting point to go with. I think since it is getting much colder now I will slow down on the watering at least and monitor how long it is taking to get real dry.

I have never had a bloom on the den so I don't think I can compare blooms but I started with two leaves and now I 've got four on a separate slimmer bulb that grew so I am taking that as a good sign it is growing at least.

silken · #7 11-03-2014, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleone

Thank you! that does give me a much better starting point to go with. I think since it is getting much colder now I will slow down on the watering at least and monitor how long it is taking to get real dry.

I have never had a bloom on the den so I don't think I can compare blooms but I started with two leaves and now I 've got four on a separate slimmer bulb that grew so I am taking that as a good sign it is growing at least.

Maybe when the Den's growth is mature and with leaves on it, you could post another photo on a new thread or the original one and someone may be better able to identify it.

littleone · #8 11-05-2014, 09:43 AM

A few more questions , is it okay to use a popsicle stick or something to see how wet the inside of the pot is? It would be easier for me to see since the only bamboo I have is black bamboo.

I also wanted to ask if it's relatively safe to slowly ease the stick into the middle of the pot - I assume it needs to be in the middle to tell if it's still wet in there?

I cannot see the roots through the bark - do people normally use clear containers or how do you guys examine roots regularly??

silken · #9 11-05-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleone

A few more questions , is it okay to use a popsicle stick or something to see how wet the inside of the pot is? It would be easier for me to see since the only bamboo I have is black bamboo.

I also wanted to ask if it's relatively safe to slowly ease the stick into the middle of the pot - I assume it needs to be in the middle to tell if it's still wet in there?

I cannot see the roots through the bark - do people normally use clear containers or how do you guys examine roots regularly??

Yes, you could se a Popsicle stick. The bamboo kebab skewers referred to are found in dollar stores and grocery stores. They are inexpensive and come in a bag with lots so they last a long time. But anything would work. The skewers are thinner than a Popsicle stick so they might slide down into the pot easier, but yes, ease it down in fairly deep and more near the centre. I leave it in place, pull it out to check and then place it back in the same hole. That way I don't stab roots every time.

I almost always use clear pots and once roots are well established it's pretty easy to see them as they are up against the sides and sticking out holes sometimes. But some people use clay pots, coloured plastic pots, wood baskets and many other things. It's whatever works best in your environment. Sometimes you need to experiment before you figure that out.

tarev · #10 11-05-2014, 05:42 PM

We all have different ways of watering, but one thing that I have learned, come the cooler months, late Fall to winter, I have to water a lot less, than when I am growing my 'chids during late Spring to Summer. Adjust watering as seasons change.

And as mentioned, depending on what type of Den you are growing, some must have their winter rest.

My Phals are enjoying the cool down, but I do not water them a lot during the colder months. They always stay indoors year round.

I have brought indoors some of my orchids that I have known to be more cold sensitive and they are in a south facing window. There are still some in my growcamp outdoors, and I think I can leave them there, as long as I keep them cool and dry. With cooler air there is more moisture in it, so the orchids can take it. The critical part is the temperature. I am still observing closely, so far our temps are still bearable. May have to reconsider bringing them in when forecasts calls for hard freeze. Just have to consider the temps along with the watering aspect, so you are aware of what your orchid can tolerate.