Winter rest requirements for Dendrobium harveyanum? - Page 2 - Orchid Board

camille1585 · #1 10-25-2021, 08:24 AM

I've had a Den harveyanum for a couple years, and while it does bloom each spring, the flower count is very low and I've read that this could be caused by an insufficient winter rest.

This is a Den which comes from a monsoon climate with rather heavy rainfall in the growing season, followed by a dry, bright and cool fall and winter. Humidity at the tail end of winter is said to be rather low, with plants likely receiving very little moisture at all.

This is the winter rest info on travaldo's blog (and read elswhere):
Travaldo's blog: Dendrobium harveyanum care and culture
" Rest period:
A cool, dry rest is necessary for Dendrobium harveyanum and should last until new growths appear in the spring. You can completely eliminating water in winter, but the plants are healthier if they dry between watering in winter, but they will not be completely dry for too long. However, during the last 1-2 months of winter, the plants must dry out completely between waterings and stay dry for a bit longer. Occasional morning fogging will protect the plants of drying. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until regular watering starts."

I have been 'resting' it by reducing watering to once every 3 weeks or so between halloween and spike formation. The bulbs on this plant shrivel rapidly, so I've been afraid to lengthen the watering intervals. Mine is grown potted and indoors, and in the winter the humidity is between 35-60%, temperature 18-24°C and I have LED fixtures as supplemental lighting. Does anyone here have experience with this Den? Should I limit watering to occasionally heavy misting and skip the soaking entirely? I understand the advice above, but it's difficult to figure out how that works in practice.