C. dowiana culture: how dry is dry

[coirchlid]

Hi Steve,

You've mention previously living in Hawaii so you may be familiar with growing conditions here (excellent blooms btw of the dowiana you posted in my other thread - thanks for sharing the pics and advice).

I'm on the drier side of O'ahu at about 200ft elevation (Royal Kunia) I have not measured light levels but my plant currently sits under translucent plastic that gets sun from about 11am to 4pm. It originally came in a 2" pot from H&R last october. I dropped the pot into a shallow 6" clay pot filled mostly with gravel and topped with a thin layer of Schultz orchid mix (some of the gravel is still visible). The Schultz mix (mostly bark) has been in storage for a few years but has been in use for about 7 month. As far as temperatures go, all I know is that winter nights often get as low as 60f and summer days are often about 85 with a difference of about 15f for day and night.

It becomes quite obvious (I think) when the plant is dry and this seems to take a day or two. My main question is: how long do I keep it dry?