Cycnodes Seedling Question

[Subrosa]

I just bought a flask on Ebay, Cycnoches warscewiczii x Mormodes 'Nitty Gritty', and have a question concerning dormancy, or more specifically avoiding it. I was thinking that if I keep them lit 14 hours per day I could trick the new seedlings into thinking it's growing season and continuing to grow. Next spring when the days get 14 hours long I'd move them outside.Then in the fall let them go into their natural dormancy cycle after hopefully storing enough reserves to get going the following season. Is this a sound plan?

[Leafmite]

My orchids are definitely thinking that it is summer right now. I thought I needed to give the orchids fourteen hours of light and so I set my timer to this. The orchids that normally rest for the winter are either putting out new growths or about to bloom. I will know for next year.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

I just bought a flask on Ebay, Cycnoches warscewiczii x Mormodes 'Nitty Gritty', and have a question concerning dormancy, or more specifically avoiding it. I was thinking that if I keep them lit 14 hours per day I could trick the new seedlings into thinking it's growing season and continuing to grow. Next spring when the days get 14 hours long I'd move them outside.Then in the fall let them go into their natural dormancy cycle after hopefully storing enough reserves to get going the following season. Is this a sound plan?

Gene Monnier once told me that as long as your temps never fall below 55F, you can keep watering this group without fear of rot. H&R never gives their Catasetinae any rest in winter, though their temps don't fall below 55F; which corroborates Gene's dormancy tip to me. Be sure to keep it warm in their growing area if you decide to do this and keep us updated on their progress.

[Brooke]

I had a flask of Morm x Cyc cross and I didn't let them go dormant until the third year. If you let them, or force them into dormancy, many of the smaller ones won't have enough energy to regrow in the spring.

Brooke

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Brooke

I had a flask of Morm x Cyc cross and I didn't let them go dormant until the third year. If you let them, or force them into dormancy, many of the smaller ones won't have enough energy to regrow in the spring.

Brooke

Ok, very good information! Thanks!

[Rowangreen]

As I understand it they go into dormancy for a dry period, not because there's less daylight. I looked up climate for one (and this may go for many in the group) and daytime temperatures were pretty much the same year round. The difference was in night time temperatures during the dry season. So that fits fairly well with keeping them warm.

I actually have some flasks too: will have to get them out of my coldish kitchen!

[Brooke]

I grow in a g/h in zone 6. The temp is never below 60 but sometimes in the winter it doesn't get much higher than that during the day. Sun can also be an infrequent visitor in the winter.

IOW it can be very ugly for days on end.

Brooke

[Subrosa]

They arrived yesterday! About 50 total, I potted up 18 of the largest before I realized I was running out of moss, so the remainder are in a Ziploc with the last of the moss. When I get the rest potted up I'll have pics.