Should I put dendrobium seedlings on winter rest?

[LilianaLM]

Hi everyone!

This is my first winter with orchids ! I have a few dendrobium seedlings, and I have a question about winter rest. 2 of them are having new growths (my logic tells me to continue watering and fertilizing) ; one dendrobium jenkinsii seedling that I am not sure if I should put on winter rest ( attached picture, and I think has new growths) and another dendrobium (i think? ) no ID but it would be great if anyone knows what type of dendrobium it is ( picture attached) and not sure if I should put that one on rest, I have had it since August 2017 and it looks exactly as the day I got it, no growth, no new leaves or anything, only 2 new roots that I see in the pot, seem like no longer growing. Any advice is highly appreciated!

[rbarata]

Not sure if I'm thinking correctly but it makes sense to give them the same treatment as mature plants. Otherwise how would they survive in nature?

[estación seca]

Tiny seedlings can't handle long dry spells. It turns out Den. jenkinsii doesn't get much winter rain, but it gets winter dew most nights. It is wet most winter nights. It doesn't get a winter rest from the perspective of water. Blooming is more related to low winter temperatures than dry winter rest, which harms the plant. So keep watering it, and give it a lot of light, and keep it cool at night.

The other plant is a species or hybrid related to Den. nobile. These also do best with some winter watering. They should not drop their newest leaves each year. A small plant like this shouldn't be kept dry through the winter. These are triggered to flower by low winter temperatures, not by withholding water.

[camille1585]

That second plant reminds me of Sophronitis cernua. I'm less familiar with dens, but it could be something like Dendrobium jenkinsii (or is the same Den aggregatum var. jenkinsii?) or Dendrobium bulbophylloides. Those are the minis I'm familar with...

[Ray]

I am not a grower of dendrobiums, but actively growing seedlings need water and a tiny bit if food.

You may allow plants that have gone dormant to have a bit of a rest, but "forcing" them into dormancy is called "killing them."

[LilianaLM]

Thank you for the info! Now I have better idea

[Roberta]

I totally agree, perhaps cut back fertilizer, and water a bit less, but don't be aggressive. If you water more than they want, they may not bloom (though I agree with ES that temperature drop is probably a more important trigger than less water) but if you water less than they want, they may not survive. So to me, an easy choice... don't be afraid to water.