When should I let B. Nodosa dry out? And another question

[ColoradoBirddog]

I've got good hopes for my B. Nodosa this year. Lots of new growth, looks to be very happy in my vivarium. Plenty of light and humidity.

So I understand that I need to let it dry out for a couple of weeks, to mature the growths and force blooming. But just when should I do that?

Another question I have is this: is there any chance that the growth from previous years, that did not grow spikes, could produce them now?

[SouthPark]

From what I've read before, plenty of light was one important requirement for blooming of this kind of orchid.

A general consensus from those that consistently got blooms was adequate light levels needed. Relatively high light in fact.

The talk from the few people about dry out period is probably some self-conjured thing. So many nodosa orchids have bloomed without any such dry out period.

Just adequate nutrition/nutrients and adequate light and maintained good-growing conditions will do the job. And the plant developing lots of new growth is always a good sign.

[ColoradoBirddog]

Thanks, SouthPark. It's under a 400w HPS, so it's getting tons of light, heat and humidity. Looks happier than I've made it before.

[SouthPark]

Looking forward to seeing nice photos of those future nodosa blooms!!!

[Roberta]

I never heard of drying out a B. nodosa. They do nicely mounted or in a basket, they need to dry out between waterings like anything else in the Catt family. But certainly nothing severe like 2 weeks, especially in summer!

[ColoradoBirddog]

My specimen is in a basket, lined with sphagnum moss. I definitely wouldn't try letting it go a couple of weeks in the summer. Theoretically, it should be in the winter, from what I saw.

[Roberta]

It doesn't need that sort of drying in the winter either... all watering gets cut back in winter if things dry out more slowly... for those growing in the house, where heating may drop the humidity to the vanishing point, watering doesn't need to be reduced then either except for deciduous Dendrobiums and Catasetinae.