Lowest temperature for cattleya

[tillystuff]

Hello everyone, As I've been viewing all the different threads, and I don't recall any info about temperatures for orchids. With the April cold blast filtering all the way down to Florida, it would be interesting to see how many folks have already taken down the cold protection on their growing spaces after all the nice weather and are now facing once again cold temps. We don't like to let our green house drop below 50 deg. but are somewhat in a delema with temps threatning to dip into the mid 40's for a couple of days. How many think we should go for it and re-cover or just let it ride for a couple of day's?

[Ellen]

Temps in the mid-40s shouldn't hurt your Cattleyas. If they're in bud or flower, a sudden cold snap might cause you to lose the buds or flowers, but won't hurt the plants themselves. I've even had Catts survive sub-freezing temperatures.

[tillystuff]

Thanks Ellen...we went ahead and let it go for last night. It was one of those freaky cold fronts not seen that often here in Sebring this time of year. It only got down to 48deg so we think they'll be fine. Just have to wait and see if the buds and blooms will suffer any. A rapid warm up is expected with lows only around 70 deg by Wed.
Have a great day!

[jerrymeola]

I only covered my cats for two nights this year. Both nights it went under 30. (SW Florida)

I have left Cattleya unprotected to as low as 28 without losing any plants. I did get leaf damage at that point, but it was not servere.

[prisana]

I live in S. Fl and it did get pretty chilly a couple of times but I didn't bring in my plants ( out of town ) and they were fine . Few of them were in buds and they bloomed fine too. I loose more buds in the heat than anything. Question.. I was on e-bay looking around and I saw your name ( Tillystuff ) that came up as one of the orchid plant sellers from FL..do you sell orchids too ?

[kmarch]

Cattleyas that contain Soph coccinea, common in breeding red cattleyas, can tolerate quite a bit of cold. I have a nice one (Wendy's Valentine) that I winter outside here in Melbourne Australia where it can get near freezing some winter nights.

[tillystuff]

Hello all and thanks for the great responses. Sorry for the delay to you all but have been super busy with my normal job!!! I know...what is normal? Anyway, all did well.
Jerry, that's a first in hearing that...for years we have always heard not to let them get below at minimum 48deg. But that's good to know and I'm sure others will benefit from that info...thanks.
Prisana...yes we do sell on ebay and some locally. We are not a large volume seller, we just do it as a hobby and to make a little extra income and also have a lot of fun with it.

[Bolero]

I agree with the others. I have quite a large number of catt's and the ones with sophrinitis in them can go almost down to freezing and still flower well for me. I even have a Blc that flowers and grows outside in very cool weather over winter which ranges from the 30's to the 40's at night.

If you do have warmer growing ones then generally 45F or more for the minimum is recommended......well where I live it is.

Orchids can stand quick dips for a few hours of colder temperatures and come out unscathed. However, if the cold snap will be of some duration it's best to protect them.