Originally Posted by OrchidBro (Post 909135)

I grown my nobiles outside year round with the rest of my orchids. The winter where I live is very minimal, a few nights might get into the mid to low 40s f. This winter has been exceptionally warmer than years past. My roots continue to grow during the rest period and I normally water it once every two weeks, when the canes start to shrivel. During the growth period I normally water every two days, for comparison. My nobiles bloom for me consistently every year and are already budding at this point. Another thing, no fertilizer during the rest period. I have heard/read some growers in warm climates will actually put their nobiles in their refrigerator overnight to mimic the colder rest period.

Originally Posted by ThePizzaMonster (Post 909136)

it lost a few leaves and I'm not sure if that was normal or it was suffering because it was too cold.

Originally Posted by ThePizzaMonster (Post 909136)

It hasn't grown leaves or new growths for about a month so maybe it is resting indeed?

Originally Posted by OrchidBro (Post 909139)

That is normal. These are semi-deciduous orchids so some canes may lose some leaves during the rest period and some canes might not lose any leaves. Eventually, over the life cycle of each cane, they will lose all of their leaves, but this could take many years to happen.



That would be a good indication that it is resting. My biggest nobile was in the middle of a 2nd growth cycle for the year when it started its rest period. So I have many keikis and baby growths that just stopped growing, leaves of other canes started to yellow and drop off slowly. I would continue to try and give it those colder night temps in order to get buds to develop. I am not sure your ACed room of 68 F will be cold enough to get it to bloom but you never know.

Did you get this nobile from a local grower? If so, you could always try and reach out to them and ask how they got it to bloom.

Originally Posted by ThePizzaMonster (Post 909142)

How long does the rest period usually take?

Originally Posted by OrchidBro (Post 909147)

It really depends on the individual plant and conditions it is being grown in. Some people say to stop watering in October/November and don't start again until February/March. Again, that all depends on where and how it is being grown.

Personally, I observe my nobiles and their behavior to determine when they are starting to rest. I believe mine stopped growing in late November/early December and that is when I stopped watering. Looking at my photos from last year, the buds were really developing in February and it bloomed in March.