Phalinopsis mannii in S/H

[OOAJ]

Hi all, I was curious about growing phal mannii s/h. I bought a seedling about a year ago, and have had it growing s/h for about 8 months now. As far as I can tell, the little mannii seems very happy there, it's growing new leaves on a regular basis and it looks to have very good roots.
My concern is that I was doing a little more digging into the culture of the species and it says that mannii need a dry spell in the winter to bloom. However, another source said that while their natural habitat does provide a "dry season" with minimal rain, they tend to grow along rivers and other water, so they don't fully dry out.
I feel like the plants is getting close to being first bloom size, and would like to try and get it to flower next spring if I can. My question is, since I've been growing s/h, will this hurt my chances of getting a bloom? If so, is their anything I could do to give it this dry spell, such as letting the reserve water in the bottom of the pot deplete, or will that present greater risk to the plant?
As always, thank you in advance for your thoughts.

[Bud]

can you post pictures?

[OOAJ]

I will later tonight when I get home.

[OOAJ]

Here are the pics, I couldn't get very good ones of the roots, but I can see at least 4 that have made it 1/2 way or farther down in the pot.
Also, for reference, that's a 4 inch pot.

[isurus79]

Ray typically recommends that species with a dry season get either no water in the well OR keep water in the well, but without fertilizer. My guess is that Phals will do best with a full well of water with no fertilizer.

[Ray]

Correct (assuming Steve meant to say without fertilizer).

The "rest" period most orchids need is not so much an avoidance of water as it is a period of reduced feeding. A plant will absorb nutrients - both actively and passively - only when they are in solution. A species getting no- or only a little rainfall, gets little or no nutrition.

The plant can be successfully grown in the constant moisture of semi-hydroponics, but you need to withhold the application of nutrition.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Ray

Correct (assuming Steve meant to say without fertilizer).

Correct assumption.

[OOAJ]

Thanks for the responses. This raises a second question, I'm using time release fertilizer that I purchased from Ray, should I try to clean it out later in the fall?
The last time I replenished the fertilizer was probably about 4 months ago.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by OOAJ

Thanks for the responses. This raises a second question, I'm using time release fertilizer that I purchased from Ray, should I try to clean it out later in the fall?
The last time I replenished the fertilizer was probably about 4 months ago.

Yes, you'll have to get out the fert once you've determined the growing season is over.