deciduous Dends

[Sandy4453]

Does anyone here know when, exactly you're supposed to stop watering deciduous Dends for their winter rest, namely nobile and superbum? I keep reading that with the onset of cooler, dryer weather, the leaves will drop and then, stop watering. Makes sense except I've also been told that now is the time to stop watering and the leaves haven't dropped yet.

Should I continue watering if these plants are still holding their leaves?

One other question...Are all deciduous Dends those that require a winter rest?

in advance!

[quiltergal]

Sandy I start withholding water on Halloween and resume watering on Valentines Day give or take a few days on either end.

Not all deciduous Dens require a restriction in water. Some nobiles, for example. only need cool temps and no fert. to bloom successfully. It just depends what you have.

[Sandy4453]

Terri, thanks for clearing this up for me.

[quiltergal]

Den. superbum, now known as Den. anosmum needs a dry winter rest. Here is what it says in Dendrobium and it's relatives by Lavarack, Harris & Stocker.

"The long, pendulous stems make this species unsuited to a pot. It can be tied to a slab or grown in a hanging basket. The plants must be given a dry rest during the colder weather if they are to flower well. During the growing season it should be watered copiously. It does best in strong to filtered light, good air movement and humid conditions. The aerial growths on the stem can be used to produce new plants."

[Ross]

I agree with all the above. D. superbum, anosmum requires (at least in my experience) a total drying down. I start mine around Halloween (althought some of the leaves have yellowed and dropped off already). I don't resume watering on a certain schedule. I wait till the new flower buds are approx 1/2" long and new green growths have started, before I start with new watering regime for spring.

[Sandy4453]

Thank you both for the additional info.

I've got the Dend superbum (yes, anosmum) in a pot right now (with bark) and want to transfer and mount it on a piece of cork. Would now be the wrong time to do this?

P.S. Terri, I'm waiting for H&R to open for business, tomorrow. They were closed today. I'm getting (as you know ) the Dend. atroviolaceum and also, the Dend. Wonder Nishii. I just couldn't resist.

[nanteq]

Sorry for bumping this old thread but I have a question regarding my D. superbum I got a couple of months ago.
Reading this thread I've understood that I shall give it no or very little water (once a month?) during the winter. The thing that I wonder about is at what temperature I should keep it? You say low but for me as a beginner it doesn't mean that much. Is it ok with just a lower overall temp or shall it be cyclic with low night temp and higher during the day?

Thanks

[Junebug]

Hey Sandy,

Don't forget to keep in mind that we grow our chids in Florida. When something needs a winter rest I wait until our local temperatures begin cooling off. Our temperature timing doesn't jive with northern growers. They experience a drop in temperatures before we do. A large portion of my plants were still putting out new growth last November (they thought it was spring) and I didn't dc watering my "needs a winter rest" plants until mid-December. Just something to consider.