Do I really need to stop watering my Dendrobiums?

[Khayael]

Hi everybody!
I have some dendrobiums that I wish they could bloom again since I first got them from the box store.
I got two questions:
I've been reading about it and some people say that you should stop watering completely from mid November until February. Some people say only one kind of them need the dry spell and the others don't.
I've been watering them every week and it's already December! :o
Only one seems to have something that looks like it could be a blooming spike. But I don't want to spoil it! What should I do?
The other question is. Do dendrobiums bloom only on new canes? or the old ones can bloom again??
Thank you guys!!

[stateless]

this is hard to answer without a photo of your den, there are a couple that like a dry spell. You said it came from a box store, so most likely an evergreen type, but could be a nobile which would like a dry spell. Nobile types bloom close to the cane and up and down the whole cane, while evergreen types put out a bloom spike. Old canes can rebloom. You might want to do a search on dendrobium care, there alot of different types of dens with different cultural needs.

[raybark]

Stateless gave a good response.

I would like to share one thing, though: the concept of a "winter rest" is less about moisture than it is about nutrition. Plants that require such "rest periods" certainly originate in areas having distinct wet- and dry periods, but if you think about the implications, it becomes more clear.

Plants take up nutrients if they are in solution, that is, when there is rain or heavy dew. That means, therefore, that periods of "no water" also - and more importantly - means "no food".

I conclude that to be the critical factor, as folks growing such plants in semi-hydroponic culture have found that one can get them to rebloom reliably not by withholding all water, but by continuing to water with plain water containing no nutrients.

[Khayael]

You said it came from a box store, so most likely an evergreen type... evergreen types put out a bloom spike. Old canes can rebloom.

Yes ed. This is the second year since I bought them and they are evergreen. Their flower spikes were on the top.
So, ever green types don't need the dry spell? What about the dendrobium aggregatum? I have one of those as well.
As I said, I've been reading about dendrobiums online, but almost all of what I find it's just how to care for them in general, not really helpful.

[coeruleo]

dendrobiums are such a complex family of plants, from many different climates. the best way to grow any plant, of course, is to learn about its homeland and the weather there. hybrids can make this difficult... there are a few reasons i have avoided dendrobiums until i have gotten a little better with other orchid types. this is my first winter for a dendrobium kingianum, one of the dry-winter types. i read to give them zero water from end of september until december. i got it in full bloom last february. i am just now beginning to water it again. it went from sort of plump looking to emaciated looking, but the leaves are hanging in there. only gave it an occasional misting. i have seen a few of the nodes get a little plump... but mostly i am afraid i am killing the poor thing. this has been an exercise in abuse really. there are a few keikis already forming during this dry spell, but i hear without the dry spell there would be almost no flowers at all and a ton of keikis. so i guess in a few months i will find if my torturing the plant was worth all this. the part that puzzles me is my colder weather is still coming, so i hope i did the right thing...

[stateless]

Yes ed. This is the second year since I bought them and they are evergreen. Their flower spikes were on the top.
So, ever green types don't need the dry spell? What about the dendrobium aggregatum? I have one of those as well.
As I said, I've been reading about dendrobiums online, but almost all of what I find it's just how to care for them in general, not really helpful.

I water my evergreens less in winter when it is cooler but I grow outside all year long. Den aggregatum, or den aggravating as I think of it, does want a rest . I found online a source that listed the majority types of dens and their care, but did not save the site, so maybe if you try searching types of dens and their culture you can find something useful. I was surprised to find out how large and diverse dens can be. good luck hope I was some help

[Khayael]

Yes, you did help me Ed and I really appreciate it!

[pipsxlch]

My dens are all evergreen types (antelopes and some intermediates) except for a pierardi. When dry season starts here, I slow down my watering but don't completely stop it. Right now, with it having cooled off and being dry, I'm watering once a week and not feeding at all. I do keep an eye on my tiny babies and water them a little more often if they're looking stressed- but even they just kind of seem to go into suspended animation. When it warms up (always proceeds the rains here) I start watering more often and feeding; I've noticed the warming (or longer days) seems to trigger the development of new growths/spikes. My plants bloom well in the spring/summer/into fall.

[Khayael]

My dendrobiums are evergreen and they're indoors year round. I water once a week year round as well. That's why I'm asking.

[Pansy Orchid]

dendrobium soft-canes prefer full sunlight all year round specially in winter reduce watering to 1 to 2 week intervals in winter . summertime each or every second day is ok . do not fertilise during winter . Hard-canes need rest period also if winter months reduce watering . most orchids need shaded sunlight to be healthy . the only plant i wood keep indoors would be African Violets. cheers