S/H and wintering outdoors

[Junebug]

This spring I switched about 1/3 of my plants to S/H (mostly dends and a few catts). My orchids are grown outside in the mild climate of Climate of Central Florida. They're brought indoors only if the temperature dips below 48 degrees. A scarey thought just occurred to me. I've noticed from posted photos that many growers who are pleased with S/H appear to grow them in a more temperature controlled environment. Since most tropical orchids don't like their roots exposed to extensive cool, damp environments and prefer a winter rest from watering then what will happen to the S/H plants during winter? Instead of allowing the S/H medium to wick up water should I just occassionally mist the medium during the plants natural rest period as the temperature begins to drop? I never gave any thought to the orchids resting phase. How does this work with S/H? As always, your comments are greatly appreciated.

[Ray]

I recommend against ever letting a plant in S/H get that cool. Evaporative cooling of the root zone actually takes it lower than the ambient. Mid-50's is my limit.

Most tropical orchids do not need a winter rest at all, but for those that do, you have a couple of alternatives: stop watering altogether as you would in more traditional culture methods, or continue watering normally, but use no fertilizer at all. Either seems to work with nobile dens, so is likely fine for others, as well.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Ray

I recommend against ever letting a plant in S/H get that cool. Evaporative cooling of the root zone actually takes it lower than the ambient. Mid-50's is my limit.

Most tropical orchids do not need a winter rest at all, but for those that do, you have a couple of alternatives: stop watering altogether as you would in more traditional culture methods, or continue watering normally, but use no fertilizer at all. Either seems to work with nobile dens, so is likely fine for others, as well.

Thanks Ray, "You're the Man"! While I've got your attention I have another question regarding S/H. I began changing my plants over to S/H at the beginning of their root growth and have had to mist the top of the medium a little to encourage the roots attraction. How do you proceed once the roots are well established and reaching to the bottom of the pot? Should you always keep the Reserve saucer filled with water or should you let it get a little dry and just mist the top for a few days so the roots at the base don't get water logged? I ask this question because I always notice that the base of the flower pot, being in direct contact with the saucer of water, always stays moister.