Fall Care for Dendrobiums

[bil]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

oops! I forgot that I posted this thread

So after searching around, the dendrobium little sweet scent hybrid of a Den. anosmum and Den. parishii. It is deciduous, i am assuming, and needs some sort of a winter rest. I am just unsure whether it is a hard winter rest or not. The idea of not watering some orchids for a month or three, is weirding me out!

Thanks for all of the help!

It's reduced water, - don't let then wither/shrivel -- but no fertiliser.

[cjm3fl]

"When is it winter?" is always a great question when it comes to plants, and gardening.

If I wanted to I could have planted new tomato plants in mid-September---where I live.
My sisters were getting the last of their 2015 tomatoes during mid-September---where they live.

SaraJean, you're lucky to live in the "south". You have a very good chance of seeing temps where plants would be comfortable growing for a while longer.
My sisters live near Philly and have very little hope of seeing a couple day with temps of 70*(f) or better, until sometime next year.

I live farther south then you do. The "rest period" for some of my orchids has been in mid-summer while the same orchid on another mount is going into full bloom.


I agree with everyone who is saying that your plants will tell you by slowing down their growth.
Species, condition, and care can make a difference too.
And all your plants may not go to rest at the same time.

How do you care for them?
Keep doing what you're doing with watering and feeding until you see a slow down in growth.
Protect them during those (few) days/nights when the temps get too cool for your orchids.

[rockyfarm]

It's not too convenient to take one or two orchids from a collection and give them very different temperature conditions. I'm thinking of Dendrobium loddegesii in particular, with the need for a chilly period to initiate flowering. How short can such a period be and yet be successful? I guess the same applies to D. aggregatum.

[estación seca]

Den. loddigesii is about 6 weeks. Den. aggregatum seems to be rather temperamental and people report problems blooming it.