So, what do YOU do with your dormant bulbs...

[hosshead]

...while they're "resting"?

I lift a lot of mine from the pots so I can watch for new nubs. Store them up on a airy, but not too bright, dry shelf.

How 'bout you?

[isurus79]

I throw 'em in a corner and forget about 'em. Every now and then I will check for new growth. These guys really are the easiest group to grow!

[vmax3000]

All this time, I thought that when they were dumping their leaves, they were dying, and I would, of course, start pestering the crap out them....hastening their death, unwittingly.. If mine is still okay, I will "toss it in the corner" and leave it alone. Maybe it will recover? Thanks for the info!

[hosshead]

LOL Vanessa!

Nah, as long as the bulbs are fat and healthy, it's fine, just gone dormant. It won't be too long before you'll see a little nubbin at the bottom of the bulb that will then grow into another leaf bearing large bulb.... essentially a clone of the mother bulb.
Watch for roots to start from the bottom of the new bulb, when they are an inch or so long you can set the plant down in the top of new media and start watering.

Yeah for a while I didn't know that many orchids are deciduous either and it turned out I was being all heartbroken for what was normal orchid behaviour!
I think I tossed away several perfectly healthy dendrobiums this way.

[hosshead]

p.s.
I think the orchid community could live by the motto:
"If it hasn't rotted, it might be okay!"

I certainly do.
My Dad asked me once,(about my catasets and cycs), why I was keeping all these dead plants... or were they some weird sort of fruit????

LOLOL!!!!

[vmax3000]

Brilliant!! I can't tell you how many times I have been surprised by a green emergence from a "pot o' sticks". I haven't had any recover from the black mushy death, though. But there's always another day, right??