Yet another question on winter rest - Orchid Board

irrka · #1 10-10-2008, 04:43 PM

i've a nobile sitting in growing in S/H. It just started making a new cane about a month or so ago, so the newest cane is tiny. The only two other growths are one i just de-keikied and one that's been mostly dried up and dessicated. Should i wait for the newest cane to gain some height / bulk before switching to winter rest, or just switch and hope for the best? Do the keikis i just potted up need to be on winter rest or can i just keep on watering them since they're going to be too small to flower anyway?
thanks!

isurus79 · #2 10-10-2008, 07:00 PM

I have no idea about S/H, but any plant that requires dormancy and throws a new growth should be treated as though it were the growing season (usually summer). Just my opinion. As for the keikis, I do not give any of my seedlings a rest. Makes 'em grow faster and they dont seem to mind.

Bolero · #3 10-10-2008, 10:57 PM

From my point of view, I give all my plants a winter rest. There is enough energy in the older canes to support growth on the new cane that is now developing.

Once the temps get below 50F I rest them. I have had bad experiences with rot if I don't.

They do fine with a rest.

Sandy4453 · #4 10-10-2008, 11:07 PM

If you are doing s/h on nobiles, the only difference in the culture it receives from the rest of the year is withholding all fertilizers. There's no switching of anything, it continues to get watered/flushed to maintain the same water level as always, just no fertilizer! I've got one nobile in s/h and stopped all feeding the end of August. I'm not sure how you'd treat the kiekis once you remove them? I'd be curious to know this too.

isurus79 · #5 10-10-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolero

Once the temps get below 50F I rest them. I have had bad experiences with rot if I don't.

Excellent point. The reason I can keep watering my plants is the weather is still fairly warm all year round here. Rot is much less of a problem for me. If you can keep your temps warm all year, then rot is much less of a problem.

Sandy4453 · #6 10-11-2008, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

If you are doing s/h on nobiles, the only difference in the culture it receives from the rest of the year is withholding all fertilizers. There's no switching of anything, it continues to get watered/flushed to maintain the same water level as always, just no fertilizer! I've got one nobile in s/h and stopped all feeding the end of August. I'm not sure how you'd treat the kiekis once you remove them? I'd be curious to know this too.

I originally failed to mention that continued watering in winter requires that the temps don't fall below 50. Alternatively, if temps are an issue, the plant can be left in the LECA and all watering, withheld.