ORGANIZATION - HOW DO YOU DO WINTER REST?
 

:rofl:
Ok guys, so I went little bit overboard this summer, and bought many many many orchids, probably over 30 new ones, lot of Dendrobiums, that I absolutely adore, but was not successful with the few I had by now, cause never did give proper winter rest:-) So, many has seen maybe my balcony, those who did not, see pics. I would live to read your brains on How to get organized with winter rest. My issue is, I really can't reorganize and move the ones that need winter rest to one section and keep the rest elsewhere, my balcony is limited with the different parts suitable for different orchids, the orchid hanging wall is pretty much in the shade all the time, so it is for all low light babies, than on thee railings are bulbo's, some cattleyas, few phals, and in the right SUN corner are all that need lot of sunshine, either direct or filtered under sun cloth. I have probably 10 different dendrobiums - most of them requires winter rest -, as well as one catasetum. I am just trying t figure out how to be BEST organized and have it somehow under control:-) What do you do, if you have small space like me and no chance to MOVE the ones needed winter rest to one space together?

Avoid watering the ones that need winter rest, idk?

Just water the ones that need it, and don't water the ones that don't. Instead of using a hose and hosing them down, grab a bucket and water individually.

I do water everything by hand, either with pressured bottle or soaking in the bucket, depends on the orchid, so no hose at the balcony:-) I will have to just mark somehow the ones needed rest so I won't forget, I have over 70 orchids there so it is crowded and confusing little bit:-)

You know those little sticky-dots you can find at Staples
(or the grocery store/Walgreens), they come in 3 colors, all in the pack, & I use those to mark certain orchids for disease/insect watch, new bud/inflorence watch, ones that desperately need a repot, etc. Or, you could buy a few different colors of the plastic plant tags, (the ones you write the orchid's name on) they come in so many colors, and just color-code the ones that need a "rest" & the ones that don't. :)

I like the plastic tags for something that will be in the pot for awhile, but I use the paper sticky dots (sorry, don't remember what they're called), for repotting time, when certain orchids are good (no need to repot) I use the green, otherwise, I use the pink for the ones that desperately need a repot, and the orange for ones that can wait a bit longer than the former group.

Kelly's Korner orchid supply has some, if your local supply places don't.

That is a good idea Island Girl! That is a very inexpensive way to identify winter rest orchids. Thank you!

Also keep in mind that "winter rest" is not a matter of not watering, it is a matter of not providing any nitrogen.


Ray Barkalow
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Sometimes.

There are orchids that don't even do well when they are watered during dormancy, even if they are not fertilized. These include some Dendrobiums.

Hi everyone! Just wondering...which orchids do you provide a "winter rest" for?

I've always taken the "winter rest" as the time in which you don't fertilize and water a bit less in terms of keeping the plant a bit on the dry side.

I tend to apply that rule to those in my collection that have little to no active growth in the winter months. But while I was thinking about it, I realized that I have no hard rules for any particular species or hybrid. This is what prompts me to ask...Which ones in your collection have that winter rest? Thank you bunches! :)

You mean a completely dry winter rest and no fertilization?

A great example for one, (and I'm not the only one who experienced this, btw), is Dendrobium harveyanum.

Read Marni Turkel's account of growing Dendrobium harveyanum. I had a similar experience.

Thank you, Philipe for that suggestion. I inherited a den NOID and had no idea as to how to care for it. Am I correct that den harveyanum is a nobile type?

And here is the link to Marni Turkel's article:
Dendrobium harveyanum