Wintering Amamis...

[Yazz]

It's that time of year where the neos go into dormancy. Have read the sticky above about the right way to do it, and I'm getting pretty good about watering them only once a week without guilt.

In the Houston area, we're having a warm winter. I remember two different years, a while ago, when the Ice Cream Man drove by on Christmas day.

I'm timing giving the neos their cold treatment coinciding with the cold fronts, then crossing my fingers they're getting that 10 degree temp. drop.

What about my Amami? Do they need a week of cold treatment for them to set buds for next year?

[Fairorchids]

I have never given my Amami Island type NF any true rest or cool treatment. It still blooms reliably every year.

[Hakumin]

I think they might benefit from a cold treatment though probably not as much as a other types.

The temperatures on the Amami Islands in the coldest part of the winter are about 60F during the day with about a 10 degree drop at night.

[Yazz]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

I have never given my Amami Island type NF any true rest or cool treatment. It still blooms reliably every year.

Oh man, I've been abusing them right from the get go. Have treated them like regular neos and they're having a rest right now. They haven't shown any signs of distress yet.

I have an Amami-tensen that I really want to bloom.

---------- Post added at 12:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Hakumin

I think they might benefit from a cold treatment though probably not as much as a other types.

The temperatures on the Amami Islands in the coldest part of the winter are about 60F during the day with about a 10 degree drop at night.

Hakumin, thanks for cluing me in about native habitat weather. Did some googling and came up with this...

Amami Island, Japan Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)

So, like FairOrchids said, they don't need a rest.

Going to put the Amami-tensen out for a bit of cold, not too much, and leave the regular Amami in the house. Looking forward to some sweet neo blooms next year.