Orchids need “rest” time each year. The particular time for this depends on the species, but for most orchids it should begin some time in the fall and continue through most of the winter. You need to handle plants differently at this time than you would during their energetic growth periods (spring and summer usually). This is a necessary part of growing orchids successfully.
A good rule of thumb is to allow your orchids rest from November through the middle of February. How do you do this? Basically by lowering the temperature where you keep your plants, and by restricting their water.
For orchids that originate in hot or very warm regions, you should keep the temperature at about 60 0r 65. For species originating in colder locales, you can lower the temperature to around 45 degrees.
During this time, give your plants only enough water to keep them from shriveling. The bulk of the moisture should be supplied by misting or by taking steps to keep the air humid. Occasionally, though, you should poke down into the soil and examine the stem, roots and rooting medium of your plants. If these are beginning to dry out you should water them directly.
A few species will continue to grow during the winter months. These will demand somewhat more water than those that truly go dormant. If you see new shoots emerging, though, try to avoid wetting them or they else they might rot.
Some orchids are deciduous. This means they will lose their leaves after they have finished their growth for the year. You need to give these as much sun and light during their resting time as you can. This is to allow their pseudobulbs to ripen, letting them grow stronger and flower more freely.
Caring properly for orchids during their rest is not that difficult. Preventing problems, though, necessitates a good bit more information than can be covered here. The most complete guide to today’s orchid care, without a doubt, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the web. Howard’s delightful guide will furnish a complete education on the subject. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of articles on all aspects of orchid cultivation.
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