Den Speciosum with spikes beginning - How much water now??

[Spartacus]

Hello all.

I have a den speciosum x kingianum that is just starting to spike. There are little nubs swelling on ALL of the mature canes. Some canes have 4 spikes a piece.

Does that mean I should water more or less than when in growth???

I fert and water heavy in the summer growing season but I heard they need a rest period. When does the rest period start???

Thanks

[Bud]

Hi, it is one of the Aussie natives that crossed over to America.
Cool to warm grower in frost fee area.
Grows outdoors in a light shady area in a well drained potting mix.
From my experience these sorts of hybrids are relatively easy to care for. Give plenty of light and a very open mix. The mix should dry completely between waterings - avoid over-watering although it should be fairly tolerant. Cut back water in winter(mid December) if you watered them every other day then you water them once a week... This and cooler temperatures potentially induces flowering in spring.

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't know about the cross, but for my kingianum, no true rest - mine has already started spikes, and has new growth (and was the same last year at this time) - seems it would not be a good time to withhold water and fertilizer. Mine stays outside where it is cool and damp, so I water less frequently, and keep the media a bit drier than in summer (I allow it to become nearly dry, or just dry) It bloomed fabulously this past spring.

[jdw]

This cross is basically Den. x-delicatum. It happens naturally in nature and artificially here because so many like it. I have several. I'm in the SF Bay area, so my conditions are different. But cutting water back is key. Here I use the rule of thumb from Halloween to Valentine's day, cut back on water. I only mist if canes start to look shriveled. But they still like BRIGHT light during winter to bloom.

Have fun.

John