Orchid Q&A

* Air Conditioning
* Ansellia africana
* Aquarium Water
* Back Cutting
    Black Growths
* Calanthe Culture
    Catts in Hawaii
* Change of Environment
* Cymbidiella rhodocheila
* Culture of Alba Orchids
* Dehydration
    Dendrobium Care
* Dendrobium Repotting
    Dendrochilum magnum
* Dormancy
* Dry Conditions
* Epsom Salts
    Eulophia species
    Fertilizer Injector Dosage
* Flowering Vanilla
* Habenaria rhodocheila
    Holcoglossum kimballiana
* Inobulbum munificum
* Jewel Orchids
* Judging Orchids
* Leaf Color
    Leaf Residue
* Leaftip Burn
* Liparis viridiflora


Q.

Dormancy?
This year all my Catasetum Alliance and calanthes went from leaf drop to new growth without going dormant. Could this have anything to do with this year's weather here in the Bay area? — Patrick T. Duffy

 

A.

Yes, indeed, it could have been unusual weather patterns. Especially if cool and foggy conditions prevented proper maturation of growth until very late in the season, the plants may simply begin growing again. The solution to this for plants that require a dormant period to initiate flowering is to begin to withhold water and fertilizer in late autumn, whether or not you feel the growth has reached full growth. This will slow down the plant and initiate dormancy. This is also important with many dendrobiums from monsoonal climates. — Ned Nash




In nature dormancy in deciduous orchids
such as Catsetum saccatum is triggered
by a distinct dry season —
photo © 2009 Greg Allikas

Orchid Q&A

* Masdevallia coccinea
* Mastering Miltonias
* Maxillaria sophronitis
* Mealybug Infestation
* Meristemming Monopodials
    Missing Pollen
* Night Length
* Night Lights
* No Flowers
* Non-flowering Doritaenopsis
    Odontocidium Wildcat
* Oncidium Sharry Baby
* Orchid Honeydew
* Paphinia herrerae
* Paphiopedilum armeniacum
* Paphiopedilum delenatii
* Phaius Culture
    Phalaenopsis Problem
* Phalaenopsis Spiking
    Physurus herpysmoides
* Plant Sitter
* Rainwater Collection
* Redwood Bark
     Re-rooting Plants
    Spotted Oncidum Leaves
* Sticking Flowers
    Storing Pollen
* The Larger the Better
    Vanda Keiki
* Virus Question