49 Degrees

[Danelady]

So, last night it got down to 49 degrees. I was not watching the weather and unprepared for the sudden dip. I didn't bring anything inside Tonight it's also supposed to be down to 49. I brought in 22 'chids!! And, spent 15 minutes trying to get the kitty that escaped when I left the sliding glass door open!!!!
Anyway, they are catts, nobile dends, catasetum and a few other odds and ends. I don't really have enough light or space in the house for these guys. The greenhouse isn't up yet. That'll be later in October. Later in the week the lows are supposed to be back up to 60. Should I put these guys back out and just bring in when the lows are going to be below 50-55??
I'm especially worried about my large cattleya. I can actually see buds in the sheaths on this one. I have had more trouble with this one than any of my others. I'm REALLY hoping to get blooms from this one and will be very upset if the buds blast because I don't get the temps or lighting right at this point
Anyway, thanks for listening to (reading!) me ramble. I am interested in any input, experiences, etc.

[lmartiny]

I personally think they can take the temp drops OK. But I'm no expert. But I've left mine out even lower. We're due for a "cold front" and it is supposed to get to the low
60's. I've warned hubby cold weather is coming. He's looking at a green house option because he does not want to bring them in and out again this year. I agree, it's a pain.
I'm not a fan of chilly weather.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Danelady

So, last night it got down to 49 degrees. ... catts, nobile dends, catasetum and a few other odds and ends....

Your nobile-type dendrobiums will be perfectly fine in 49F temps, in fact they can go even lower than that without difficulty, just keep them dry. My nobile-types get temps as low as 40F and in some places here in Melbourne, even colder.

With the cattleyas, it depends on what they are. If they have a lot of the cool-growing Cattleya coccinea (formerly Sophronites coccinea) then 49F is fine. If they are the warmer-growing ones I'd bring them in.

There are lots of other members here who are better versed in Catasetum care than I. It's been more than 5 years since I have grown any. They will be able to advise you on what they need.

As for the others, it depends on what they are. Masdevallias? No problem. Most Masdevallia species come from Andean cloud forests so like the cool. Phals? I'd bring them in. Etc., etc.

[berniep]

G'Day Danelady

My cattleyas have just been through a winter with temps below 49f
and are still holding their buds ok, I presume they are under cover! As Kevin said the den. nobile need the cold to set their buds for next flowering, and must be kept dry for winter.(no water or fert. unless you want keikis. Catasetum seem to need a minimum of 65f.

Not sure weather this helps.

Cheers
Bernie

[rcb]

Danelandy - Catsetum shouldn't go below 60F regularly. As Bernie mentioned, a min of 65 is better. But as with all orchids, they survive colder temps better dry than wet.

But - a one time cold night shouldn't hurt them. My greenhouse accidentally got down to 43F last winter one time, and all my Catasetums did survive. If you decide to keep them out and keep them dry - you may set them into winter dormancy though.

[Bolero]

I think most of your plants should be fine, well actually all of them. Even the warmer growing Cattleya's should be ok as they can cope easily with temps around 45F and not lose buds. Don't worry too much.

I grow Nobiles down to freezing.

[Danelady]

Thanks, everyone!!
I won't be bringing the nobiles in every cool night, now! And, I'll be reducing their watering more now, too. It's hard to shift gears from watering a lot because of the heat to watering less because of the cooler temps!!
The catt is a NOID so I have no idea if it's a warm or cool catt.
The Catasetum I will be bringing in most nights now. I'll leave them in when the nights are staying cooler regularly.
The cyms I've left out and will leave out until low 40's.
I'll bring my Phaius in when we expect freezing temps.
The other odds and ends that I could use a little info on:
Den moniliforme
Den jenkinsii
Sarco harmanii
Maxillaria tenuifolia
Gongora cassidea
Brassovola nodosa
Laelia lundii
a Broughtonia
Dialaelia Mizoguchi

[rcb]

Originally Posted by Danelady

The other odds and ends that I could use a little info on:
Den moniliforme
Den jenkinsii
Sarco harmanii
Maxillaria tenuifolia
Gongora cassidea
Brassovola nodosa
Laelia lundii
a Broughtonia
Dialaelia Mizoguchi

Danelady here is the way I treat mine.

D. moniliforme - I leave with my catts - with light/temps, little drier in winter, but not full dry like some other Dens.
Den jenkinsii - drier in winter, I will probably keep a min of 55
Sarco hartmannii - same as with the catts, can take a little cooler
Max tenuifolia - same as with the catts
Gongora cassidea - is supposed to be a warm grower, but I let it get down to about 55 or so,
Brass nodosa - is a warm grower, but can probably handle a little cooler as long as it's not consistently cold.
Broughtonia sanguinea- is a warm grower
Mizoguchi - is part of the Catt alliance, can be treated as a normal Catt type.

Gotta get on your hubby to get the greenhouse going! lol

Hope this helps, btw these are just the way I treat them, they may do ok treated otherwise, let's see what others have to say.

[Danelady]

Thanks, Renee!!!

Hubby wanted the weather to be cooler putting the greenhouse up than it was when he took it down!!!! Then, the third week of October will be the first chance we have to take time off work between our two schedule!! We're taking time off to do this because we have to tear down a pool and a large deck first. The greenhouse will be going where the pool is now!!!! I will be doing before and after pics of this process!!
Also, I'm sure I will have a hundred questions on heating the greenhouse, etc., once we get it up!

[syndywindy]

the temps in the Chicago area the last couple days have been pretty chilly. The low this am was 45. All my orchids have been out with the exception of a few seedlings that I decided to err on the side of caution. I did bring them all in the other day when winds were a steady 30 mph and gusts to 60mph. Got tired of seeing them on their sides so just brought them in. But they are kept close to the house which provides alittle protection and the added warmth from the house. i haven't decided when to bring them in for good.

[Stitz]

Originally Posted by Danelady

So, last night it got down to 49 degrees..... . Tonight it's also supposed to be down to 49.... And, spent 15 minutes trying to get the kitty that escaped when I left the sliding glass door open!!!!
Anyway.... Later in the week the lows are supposed to be back up to 60. Should I put these guys back out and just bring in when the lows are going to be below 50-55??
I'm especially worried about my large cattleya. I can actually see buds in the sheaths on this one. I have had more trouble with this one than any of my others. I'm REALLY hoping to get blooms from this one and will be very upset if the buds blast because I don't get the temps or lighting right at this point
Anyway, thanks for listening to (reading!) me ramble. I am interested in any input, experiences, etc.

HELLO Danelady!

I thank you for taking care of priorities -- kitty!

Consider taking your budding catt plant inside during evening hours before the temps hit the low 50s. I have two Catt species in bud now. One, (maxima), I will leave outdoors 'til the temps regularly hit the 40s . The other (eldorado) comes inside as the temps "chill" to around 60F or less. It was outdoors 24/7 through temps in the mid-50s. Yes, I know that the "recommended" temps are for an average mninimum of around 70F. I also know that the plant is in bud with my current strategy!

Try to maintain the plants' indoor orientation to the sun so that there is no/little change while developing buds. It will not end up looking "screwy" if you get it right.

GOOD LUCK!!

--Stitz--

[Bolero]

Sarco harmanii grows very cool, for me and everyone else in Australia down into the 30's with no problems.

The others I haven't grown before in your list of other plants so I can't really comment.