Is it time to water my clowesia?

[solstice]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been giving my Clowesia Rebecca Northen a dry winters rest with the occasional misting but now that we’re almost at july and my new growth hasn’t really grown much past two inches, I’m wondering whether it’s time to just start watering them?

I’ve been reading guidance wherever I can find it but mine look nowhere near as well developed as the ones usually referenced online and I’m worried about the level of shrinkage on my psuedobulb.

This is an indoor plant, sitting in a west facing window in US zone 7a

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[Leisesturm]

Originally Posted by solstice

Hi everyone,

I’ve been giving my Clowesia Rebecca Northen a dry winters rest with the occasional misting but now that we’re almost at july and my new growth hasn’t really grown much past two inches, I’m wondering whether it’s time to just start watering them?

I’ve been reading guidance wherever I can find it but mine look nowhere near as well developed as the ones usually referenced online and I’m worried about the level of shrinkage on my psuedobulb.

This is an indoor plant, sitting in a west facing window in US zone 7a

Most of the plants you will see online are grown in ideal (greenhouse or similar) conditions. Indoors in a West window is decidedly sub-optimal. Your plant will lag behind what you see as example specimens online. Especially if you also have A/C going which is likely in Z7 in late June.

At some point you have to start watering though. That will bring on it's own set of issues. I recommend a good plant light. Even if nothing more than a household 100W (16W actual consumption) Daylight Spectrum LED bulb from the local supermarket. Put it on a timer set for 12h/dy and that will give that plant the kick in the pseudobulbs it needs to start growing in anger.

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[estación seca]

What are your temperatures? These like hot days and warm to hot nights.

[isurus79]

I agree with the suggestions for brighter light and warmer temps. You can soak this one in a bowl of water for a few hours and see if that back bulb fattens up a bit.

[solstice]

Thank you all for your suggestions, I'll try the brighter lights but living in zone 7a means the ac is on full blast 24/7 so I won't be able to give them the temps they need

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by solstice

Thank you all for your suggestions, I'll try the brighter lights but living in zone 7a means the ac is on full blast 24/7 so I won't be able to give them the temps they need

If it is warm enough outside for you to need that much A/C, it's likely warm enough outside to make these plants happy. As long as nights stay above about 55 deg F, they will benefit from the light, heat, and humidity that they will get outside. Shade from direct sun (so they don't toast), but they want to be very bright. You can move them back indoors in the early fall. (They won't be dormant yet but they will have achieved their summer growth)

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Roberta

If it is warm enough outside for you to need that much A/C, it's likely warm enough outside to make these plants happy. As long as nights stay above about 55 deg F, they will benefit from the light, heat, and humidity that they will get outside. Shade from direct sun (so they don't toast), but they want to be very bright. You can move them back indoors in the early fall. (They won't be dormant yet but they will have achieved their summer growth)

So when I say zone 7a I mean the 26th floor of a west facing apartment in New York City so outside is unfortunately not an option

But I ended up moving my Clowesia to a window that gets a lot more direct sunlight (where I have my Cattleyas) and it seems to be doing a lot better already. So I’ll see how it does with increased sunlight before committing to grow lights

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by solstice

So when I say zone 7a I mean the 26th floor of a west facing apartment in New York City so outside is unfortunately not an option

But I ended up moving my Clowesia to a window that gets a lot more direct sunlight (where I have my Cattleyas) and it seems to be doing a lot better already. So I’ll see how it does with increased sunlight before committing to grow lights

Consider a grow tent of some sort. Combine that with a seedling heat mat and your plant should get the warmth it desires.

[itzi]

I'll second a heat mat. Im growing in central texas indoors, and have my plants on an east windowsill (no humidity dome or greenhouse). Their growth in general sped up significantly when I introduced the heat mat, especially my Clowesia Jumbo Grace.