Dendrobium unicum winter care

[aliceinwl]

I bought a Dendrobium unicum back in March and was wondering about winter care.

Mine is in sphagnum in a tiny clay pot and I have it hanging outside in bright shade. I was worried about over watering when I got it and I think I ended up chronically under watering it. I started watering it more in August and it pushed out a new cane. I know this species needs a rest to bloom and temperatures are dropping.

The new cane is still growing. I’ve cut back on water but am still misting the pot and substrate a few times a week when it gets really dry. Ideally, I’d like the new growth to keep going and get flowers next spring. Am I “safe” keeping it somewhat watered over the winter or should I stop all water at some point?

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[Roberta]

I'd keep watering lightly. I go back to what I have observed at Andy's Orchids... plants are grouped by temperature needs (shadehouses, various greenhouses) and light needs (higher or lower positions)... the "dry rest" plants aren't separated, so they get watered with the general population. Being mounted they dry quickly, so the lack of a "dry rest" doesn't seem to faze them in the slightest. They bloom. Yours in a small pot will dry out fast, so when you water do it in the morning so it's dry by nightfall, but that's generally good practice anyway. I suspect temperature drop has more to do with blooming than worrying much about dryness.

[aliceinwl]

Okay, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing

I found the reverse to be true with my Den. nobile, the plants I kept outside last winter in the rain got a significant temperature drop but didn’t bloom. The indoor windowsill plant that I kept dry put on a fantastic show (keiki from one of the outdoor plants).

I was also talking to a grower about D. kingianum and they said keeping them dry in the winter helps with blooming. My plant looks great, but I’m lucky to get four flowers, so I’m going to test drying it out.

[Roberta]

It's all about experimenting... And the weather. I water my Den. nobiles lightly - maybe once a week or two, I do protect them from winter rain, along with Den. lindleyi (aggregatum). But when the Santa Ana/Diablo/Sundowner winds kick up, I do take pity. But all of mine are bigger plants in pots, so if they get watered they stay wet. Mounted ones it seems less critical.