What's the deal with dormancy?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Ray

With plants in S/H, folks are successful when allowing the pots to dry, or when watering normally, but avoiding all fertilizer until new growth resumes.

But some of these plants may be putting out roots and new growth... Phals don't slow down, and some of the Catts are actually hitting their growth and rooting stride about now. That's when the "dry" is the biggie, when it does get cold. For instance, Rhyncholaelia glauca has the bad habit of doing both new growth and buds in December/January. Overhead protection works wonders... I fertilize a lot less in winter, but don't water as much either. But don't eliminate either of them completely. Winter being more of a "suggestion" than a season where I live, it is really necessary to be ready to adapt to whatever nature is doing at the moment.

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by Ray

I'll take that a step further - as I've learned from semi-hydroponic culture, "winter rest" doesn't actually mean cold or dry, it means no nitrogen.

With plants in S/H, folks are successful when allowing the pots to dry, or when watering normally, but avoiding all fertilizer until new growth resumes.

You answered my question before I had a chance to ask it. Thanks!

[bil]

Originally Posted by Roberta

But some of these plants may be putting out roots and new growth... Phals don't slow down, and some of the Catts are actually hitting their growth and rooting stride about now. That's when the "dry" is the biggie, when it does get cold. For instance, Rhyncholaelia glauca has the bad habit of doing both new growth and buds in December/January. Overhead protection works wonders... I fertilize a lot less in winter, but don't water as much either. But don't eliminate either of them completely. Winter being more of a "suggestion" than a season where I live, it is really necessary to be ready to adapt to whatever nature is doing at the moment.

Phals and Catts don't have winter dormancy

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by bil

Phals and Catts don't have winter dormancy

Precisely what I said. Phals grow all the time. Catts might slow down (depending on the plant) but some of them are actually accelerating, entering a growth-and-rooting phase during the winter. So the advice in another post to reduce feeding during the winter certainly does not apply to quite a few orchids. If they're growing and rooting, feed them. Watering should be based on how fast they dry out... which may be more slowly in shorter, cooler days. But if they are getting dry, watering should be based on the activity of the plant, not the calendar.