Brassavola Grand Stars

[tanlu]

Hi all,

Most of my orchids died since I can't provide much humidity and air flow in the house. I have one $2 Pot. Little Fortune 15 that sent up a new pseudo-bulb which grew vigorously in the summer, but seems to have slowed down considerably.

However, a week ago I saw an unusual orchid at my local nursery and since it was on sale $13 so I decided to go for it. I read that B. Grand Starts are very easy to care for, even indoors, which was very encouraging! It has two blooms, 3 spikes, and is almost busting out of the tiny 3" plastic pot.

I keep my orchids in between my other plants on a south east facing windowsill to provide humidity and maximum sunlight. There's a screen and two layers of windows that provide some protection from the sun and so far there's no signs of over exposure. I also read that B. grand stars likes high light, and sometimes even direct sunlight.

It's almost winter here in NY. The days are shorter and my house is around 55-50 degrees during the evening and night. Since I see 3 flower spikes I'm not sure if the plant is still in it's growth phase or if it's slowing down for the winter. I read they need to be kept dry between watering, and should be watered often when in growth. I watered it once last week since it was light and dry when I purchased it. Is my plant still in its growth phase or is it slowing down for a winter rest period?

Any advice is welcome!

T