Den pierardii rest

[Dollythehun]

I hate to ask again, and I have read care instructions until my eyes crossed...will my Den pierardii signal me when it needs to rest?

Last month I quit watering it. It appeared that the new growth had hardened off. Then, I noticed some new leaves starting and a few roots peaking out. So, as you all have often said, " if it's growing, water it." I did. I am. When do I stop? Give me some practical advice pretty please.

[DeaC]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I hate to ask again, and I have read care instructions until my eyes crossed...will my Den pierardii signal me when it needs to rest?

Last month I quit watering it. It appeared that the new growth had hardened off. Then, I noticed some new leaves starting and a few roots peaking out. So, as you all have often said, " if it's growing, water it." I did. I am. When do I stop? Give me some practical advice pretty please.

Bear with me.First,I think your Den. is also known as Den. aphyllum. Now,go to orchidculture.com. Click on Orchid Culture Sheet Sampler. Scroll down to Index of Articles from AOS Bulletin. Click on Den. Species. You'll see Den. aphyllum and others. Lots to read but the Bakers have tons of info that will be useful.

[Dollythehun]

Thanks, DeaC!
I looked that over and wow! Almost TMI. I ran off some culture sheets on Dendrobiums earlier. Of. Course not as thorough. But, I quit watering, increased the light, and thought it would rest...instead it thanked me by growing. This why I stick to Den Phal's. It is fall! Rest, darn it!
So, can I make it rest??? Or does it tell me when it wants to rest? that is the unanswered question.

[twinofmunin]

I'm in the same boat. Not sure what you decided to do, but I've been trying to force mine to rest by cutting water. It hasn't dropped any leaves, but it has made little proto-inflorescence nubbins. This may have happened without the forced rest-attempt, though; this is my first winter with it.

Anyway, if you figure it out, let me know as well?

[Dollythehun]

I quit watering, mist the roots when it occurs to me. I put it in an uncomfortably cold room ( night min 65f?+-). And I bought it a little full spectrum spot light so, it has "sun." So far, I lost a few leaves but, no nubbins. A grower told me last week it was to small to bloom. But, the Orchidgurl bloomed her baby, so I have hope. Nothing else that needs a cold rest will ever come home with me. Frustrating!

[estación seca]

Most of these deciduous Dendrobiums regard rest as cold nights, and not lack of water. 65F / 18C is not even cool to them let alone cold.

The Huntington Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles grows the D. pierardii they sell at their plant sales outside all year, exposed to winter rain. Theirs bloom each year. It often dips into the low 40s in their outdoor growing area.

Can you put it into a room you don't heat at night? Or right next to a windowsill, taking care not to freeze it?

[Dollythehun]

I don't sleep in there, so I only know what it reads in the a.m. The only cold room.in the house is the shop which has no light. This is why you should buy plants that suit your conditions. I suppose I could put it back outside. 🤔 I do mist it, once in awhile, as you suggested.

[twinofmunin]

Hmm; I'd been going off of the Andy's temperature range for mine. The andysorchids site says "58°F min. to 88°F max" for their pierardii, so I was hesitant to let it get too cool.

My plant has necessarily gotten a *bit* cooler this winter, as it had to come into the house for the winter and my thermostat is medium-conservative (65-68F in general), though nowhere near as cool as you're implying. Perhaps some combination of cues is involved? Mine definitely has little spike nubbins but also definitely has lost maybe five leaves in total. I wonder if cooler temps would help it drop more leaves. (It is much cooler next to my drafty windows, but that plant is further from the windows this winter.)

[Dollythehun]

I could give it cold but, then little light. I could kick myself for even thinking I could do this justice. However, next year I will leave or take it outside until the very last second. I even considered taking back out now as we have a couple weeks of above freezing predicted. Good luck. Are you sure those aren't kiekis?

[twinofmunin]

Hmm. You're right; I'm not sure that they aren't keikis! But if they are, I'm going to be drowning in keikis shortly. XD I'll report back!