Dormancy and when to stop watering

[Suzanne17]

The culture sheets I've read have said to slow watering and cease fertilizer when leaves yellow and once they drop- stop watering. But they also say that leaves fall when the bloom has faded. My 'Witchcraft' is in full bloom but the leaves have all dropped. The Fredclarkeara is starting to drop leaves and is in full bloom. So I'm a little confused.

I know that I should be stopping everything by Jan. 1 no matter what but could they be going into dormancy early even with flowers still in full bloom?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[katrina]

Some bloom while still holding leaves and others blooms after all leaves have dropped...and some bloom somewhere in between those 2 extremes.

Listen to the plant...if the leaves are starting to go...begin reducing water and stop fert. Once the leaves are gone...no more water unless you notice too much shriveling of the pbulbs. And, no fert until it's time to start watering next season.

Growing under lights...it's very dry in my space so I do drizzle a little water (no fert) around the outside edges of the pot from time to time even in the middle of winter. Some people never have to give even a drop of water during dormancy.

[Suzanne17]

Thanks- it makes me twitchy not to water but I'll hold out! I wouldn't have watered any of them today anyway as they all still have damp skewers but I needed to prepare myself. I should stick red tags in the pots to alert me too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[katrina]

I love these dormant ones because I love that I don't have to water. I get more "twitchy" over those like Habenaria and Cynorkis where there is nothing to be seen in the pot. At least w/the dormant Ctsm I can see bare growths.

I accidentally got some overspray on a couple of Cynoches a few years back...I didn't even know I was hitting them when I was spraying the plants in front...and they rotted out. Do that a couple of times and it'll cure any and all itchies/twitchies you might have. LOL! Now I put all dormant Ctsm by themselves...no more accidental spraying in my space.

[Bulbofett]

Originally Posted by katrina

I love these dormant ones because I love that I don't have to water. I get more "twitchy" over those like Habenaria and Cynorkis where there is nothing to be seen in the pot. At least w/the dormant Ctsm I can see bare growths.

I accidentally got some overspray on a couple of Cynoches a few years back...I didn't even know I was hitting them when I was spraying the plants in front...and they rotted out. Do that a couple of times and it'll cure any and all itchies/twitchies you might have. LOL! Now I put all dormant Ctsm by themselves...no more accidental spraying in my space.

I think that's why I'm going to treat mine like tulip bulbs this year. Pull them out of their pots, cut off all roots, cut any remaining leaves, and then stick them in my garage till spring. At least until i see new growth that is.

[katrina]

Personally, I never cut roots because I get many that carry over from year to year. Especially on my older, multi-growth plants. They will almost always lose the oldest growth as the newest is developing but my larger ones carry more than one growth and those roots are not all dead. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

[Suzanne17]

Originally Posted by katrina

I love these dormant ones because I love that I don't have to water. I get more "twitchy" over those like Habenaria and Cynorkis where there is nothing to be seen in the pot. At least w/the dormant Ctsm I can see bare growths.

I accidentally got some overspray on a couple of Cynoches a few years back...I didn't even know I was hitting them when I was spraying the plants in front...and they rotted out. Do that a couple of times and it'll cure any and all itchies/twitchies you might have. LOL! Now I put all dormant Ctsm by themselves...no more accidental spraying in my space.

YIKES! Mine are all in one place and by themselves in a south window. Whew!

[Bulbofett]

Originally Posted by katrina

Personally, I never cut roots because I get many that carry over from year to year. Especially on my older, multi-growth plants. They will almost always lose the oldest growth as the newest is developing but my larger ones carry more than one growth and those roots are not all dead. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Hmm. Maybe i will do half and half and see which method i like better. Someone at my society grows their catasetinae like this and she had the most beautiful monn. Jumbo delight at the last meeting.

[katrina]

Yep...I know people who un-pot, cut them back, and then leave them out of pots during dormancy too and they grow some beauties.

[Brooke]

Put me in the camp of I don't cut roots off. I grow in net pots with the plant sitting is water. When they go dormant I lay them on their side and give them a light misting on very sunny days. It is amazing the number of roots that will instantly turn green with their "morning dew".

When regrowth resumes in the spring, if they need up potting, I do not remove the net pot but put it in the next size up. If the roots are viable they jump in growth when they have viable roots.

They will only get their roots cut off when I want to divide them and that will be when they go dormant.

Brooke

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials