Question about Dendrobium Phalanopsis

[Petalsofsugar]

I have a book that calls for about a 3 to 4 week rest for these orchids. It says that I should severely restrict water for this period after it has grown a new cane to it's mature size. I only have one book that calls for this and my other book doesn't call for any rest. Do I or don't I, I am calling on all experts on Dendrobiums. The cane in this plant is almost done and I need to know what to do.

Julie in Iowa

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Julie, let me tell you from personal experience that the real rest that D. phalaenopsis, and all the warm growing hybrids (mostly of D. phalaenopsis), needs is just to let the pots go very dry while the plant is not growing and maybe stay dry for a few days to a week before watering again. But this is for the entire time that they are not growing or blooming, not just for a few weeks. Also, the big problem I had with the old adage of rest in winter for what ever time is 'when do you start and end?'. I found, after I got Baker's Dendrobium book, that I had been starting too early in many cases. One of the constant refrains in his book, with cultural data for probably a 1000 different Den species, is 'wet while growing'. I don't think I could find one single Den species in the book that didn't say that, or something even more wet, like 'never dry out' for some. So this thorough drying out while not growing is a considerable change. When you get away from the hybrids, and start collecting Den species, I would say that Baker's book is a must have, tho not a single picture in the book. Check out his sample culture sheets at http://www.orchidculture.com/
He sells individual sheets, and the books by he and his wife are just compendiums of his sheets.
Cynthia

[Petalsofsugar]

Thanks so much Cynthia, your answer really helped. When this cane is done growing I will let them dry out completely for a week until they show signs of growth this spring. I have two others of the antelope type that I will do the same with.

Julie in Iowa