December brings cold fronts from up north and is the start of the dry season. Both cause us to change our orchid culture. Watch your watering. Less light and lower temperatures means our plants need an altered schedule for water and fertilizer. Try to water as early in the day as possible to give your plants time to dry out before night time. Water well but only when the plant has dried out well. Check to see by whatever method you use to test for dryness:
• Stick your finger in the mix and see if it’s dry
• Use a sharpened pencil stuck in the mix to see if it comes out wet or dry
• Or test with the weight of the pot - lightness equals dryness.
Cool weather means less water. If in doubt, go without - same for fertilizer. Also as with last month, bloom booster fertilizer is best and the application of epsom salt will help provide potassium and magnesium.
For all those plants that need a dry winter rest, separate them to an area that you won’t water or fertilize by mistake. Dendrobiums like anosmum, nobile, catasetums and others need a dry winter rest to flower in the spring so now is a good time to forget about them until you see flower buds or new growth and roots in the spring.
Watch the temps if it goes below 50 - vandas, phalaenopsis, and warm growing dendrobiums will need to be protected. Luckily that won’t last long. Cover them with an old sheet or plastic drop cloth overnight if you can’t bring them in for the night. Don’t forget to remove it in the morning when it warms up.
If you must repot, make sure you secure the plant in the new mix well. You probably won’t get new growth or roots until spring.
Primary source: Dr. Martin Motes
