Winter Rest - Orchid Board

Sandy4453 · #1 09-26-2008, 09:54 PM

Not quite sure if Dend. superbum and Dend. parishii (both deciduous) are supposed to stay completely dry, starting about now. Can someone advise?

Also, I stopped all fertilizing on my Dend. Nobile in August and plan to keep watering till the end of October. Is that right?

P.S. What others go through complete rest beside Catasetum?

Jerry Delaney · #2 09-27-2008, 06:02 AM

I currently grow both anosmum (superbum) an dprimulinum. I treat them just like my hybrid and species nobiles. No water, no fertilizer and cool all winter. I just moved mine to the cool part of the greenhouse today and will flush twice with plain tap water then kind of forget about them until spring. Good luck with them Sandy!

kavanaru · #3 09-27-2008, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

P.S. What others go through complete rest beside Catasetum?

all Catasetinae: Catasetum, Cycnoches, Mormodes, Clowesia, Galeandra, etc... also Calanthe (some of them), some Eulophias and "some" Lycaste (not sure if there is any species which does not do it)

Sandy4453 · #4 09-27-2008, 08:14 AM

Thanks Jerry and kavanaru.

So, absolutely NO watering, starting about now?

What about those in s/h?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavanaru

(not sure if there is any species which does not do it)

Bulbophyllum?

Sandy4453 · #5 09-27-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

What about those in s/h?

I just found an answer to my own question. For anyone else asking...
The Orchid Source Forum: One big thank you

kavanaru · #6 09-27-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

I just found an answer to my own question. For anyone else asking...
The Orchid Source Forum: One big thank you

Note that for those plants that go complete dormant, like Catasetinae, you should just stop watering completely. Otherwise you will risk to loose those plants to rot!

Sandy4453 · #7 09-27-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Note that for those plants that go complete dormant, like Catasetinae, you should just stop watering completely. Otherwise you will risk to loose those plants to rot!

Kavanaru, I've been preparing myself to refrain from any watering on the Catasetums but after reading Jasens thread and seeing his pics and the success he's had with this, I'm wondering what to do. Have you ever tried this method?

From Jasen's Nun Orchid thread...

Quote:

Originally Posted by gixrj18

Thank you, Sandy! These have been in medium light (55-60%) year-round, planted in fir bark mostly. During the summer, they get fertilized heavily twice a week, with a good rinse....and misted by my misters about once a day. During the winter, they get a low nitrogen fertilizer once a week. A reliable source told me you can still water them when they're dormant (and fertilize with blossom booster), as long as it drains well....and dries quick. I have stuck to this, and haven't had the first problem from it....and they are still blooming! It probably has a lot to do with the fact that we don't have much of a winter here.....who knows, it works though! I will update this thread when the other spikes bloom.

kavanaru · #8 09-27-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

Thanks Jerry and kavanaru.

So, absolutely NO watering, starting about now?

well, as for Catasetinae, I reduce watering when the first leave start becoming yelowish, and stop watering when all are yellow or are fallen (what comes first). Some times they do not start the dormancy, then it is recommended to stop watering after by 1-NOV. However, this always depends: currently I have two Catasetum which are newly imported from Italy, and the PBs are not mature yet. I will continue watering until mature!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

Originally Posted by kavanaru
(not sure if there is any species which does not do it)

Bulbophyllum?

I was referring to species of Lycaste

On the other hand, I have never seen a Bulbo which undergoes absolut dormancy in winter... but that's a huge genus, and I think in the orchids world everything is possible

JennS · #9 10-01-2008, 04:51 PM

I too am really curious... I have a Den. superbum and a Den. Nobile hybrid (which has never flowered since I got it). This is my first year for the Den. superbum, but I asked the grower that I got it from (in Kissimmee area) and another grower and they both disagreed with the Winter rest/drying period. They both said that where they come from does not stop raining completely and that they still get water in nature. They told me to reduce water and fertilizer, but not to stop it all together or be so drastic that I see alot of shriveling in the pbulbs. I am only repeating what I was told here. I still haven't decided what I am going to do with them, but they both are still growing so I guess nothing yet. My catasetum (or clowesia, not sure which is correct) just produced two new growths in the past couple weeks, so I can't stop watering it yet either. I am so confused!!!

JennS · #10 10-08-2008, 05:12 PM

Does anybody have any further thoughts on winter rest periods for those of us in Florida? The temperatures have only slightly changed so...do we wait a bit longer to start a winter rest, or go ahead and start it anyway?

My Den. anosum (superbum) is still completely green and maybe even still growing? Not sure....

My only catasetum recently put out two new growths, so I have no clue on this guy? On leave on the large growth from earlier this year has a slightly browned tip on one leaf! Does this mean anything or could it be over fertilizing?

Den. unicum is also still green, maybe one yellowing leaf.

Den. nobile hybrid has no changes whatsoever in a long time. Just sits there all green.

Do I need to stop the water/fertilizer to initiate them to drop their leaves or do I wait until they start dropping on their own?

Someone, please help! Thanks!!!