Dormancy

[john lapointe]

Question about how to treat a plant from the southern hemisphere where they are experiencing spring, conundrum, just received a plant from the southern hemisphere, it's sending forth new growths, 2 around 3-4" tall with new roots about 2-3" long. What is the best way to treat this plant? I searched a long period before finding a supplier and have no wish to hasten it's demise.

[Roberta]

What is the plant? One can't make a blanket statement about flipping seasons without knowing which orchid we're discussing.

I see in your next post that it is a Cycnoches - response is there.

[Leafmite]

If it is breaking dormancy, growing it under lights and giving it 'longer days' as well as keeping it warm can be helpful. Plants take their cues by either temperature or light and can usually be fooled by adjusting these cues. Even so, it is never good to shut down the new growth of an orchid when it is just ending dormancy as it is using up its energy to start growth and will need to store more energy for the next bout.