REST: Is it Necessary?

Culture Orchid Doctor

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin almost 8 years ago.

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Many orchids experience definite wet and dry periods in their native haunts but it is not necessarily the best way to treat them under cultivation; pseudobulbs from wet/dry areas can be tripled in size by watering and fertilizing year round; an Oncidium ornothorrhynchum improved its growth by being deprived of its rest period. A84-17
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Rest Period Comments
REST: For Dendrobiums As exemplified by D.Gatton Sunray, after growth is comple ted in the Fall, allow the plant to dry for four or six weeks then give it a good soaking; if shrivelling of canes does occur in the meantime, give it some water. A82-920 0
RESTING PERIOD: Defined When the lead growth is mature, water and fertilizer can be withheld until the new growth or inflorescences show themselves. A87-733; for Catasetum expansum a rest period may last four months, until the end of April; for Cycnoches chlorochilon it takes three months until the end of June, quite unusual. A83-1054 0
REST PERIOD: Definition When the season's growth is made up in late fall and pseudobulbs are mature, many plants go into a rest period lasting until growth starts again in the spring; genera with species which rest include calanthes, dendrobiums, lycastes, odontoglossums, oncidiums, cymbidiums, etc.; refer to OR73-13 0
REST PERIOD: Necessity for The idea that all orchids need a rest period is a fallacy; not necessary for many modern hybrids; a good practice is to water all plants with good green leaves. A68-431 0
REST PERIOD: Not Necessary for Plants Growing Under Optimum Conditions With few exceptions (such as the deciduous dendrobiums) the generalization about the necessity for a rest period is questionable; proper feeding and climate should bring frequent flowerings not injurious to a plant. A73-909 0
REST: "semi-dry" Rest Is it possible to describe "semi-dry" water?; or is this an obfuscation for a type of rest period complete with light spraying with water to keep the pseudobulbs from shrivelling?; plus the rebuttal, see OR82-251 0

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