should oncidiums be brought indoors now

[kindrag23]

Originally Posted by Orchid Davantage

Good job Betty, here I can never get them to bloom outside. We usuall transition from one to cool or too cool fast. One day it is still summer, and the next day, it is "rush, bring them inside".

Same here had first HUGE chill!! Lows in low 40's I was so shocked my little unheated greenhouse was about 10-15* cooler than outside. I was so happy! Whew!!

[katrina]

There is a huge difference between what conditions/temps an orchid can survive and under what conditions it will thrive. First question I would ask...is the plant(s) a cold/cool, intermediate, or warm/hot grower? Big differences can be found from one group to the next.

Also...I think it's a bit more complicated than just knowing the number on our thermometers. For example...one area might see temps down into the 50's or 40s but it's only for a short period during that night whereas another area might be that cold all night.

Additionally...one would want to factor in the day time temps the plant is exposed to. A high day time temp can make a huge different to how well it deals w/cool nights.

To complicate things further still...add in the humidity/dew (and rain). The difference between being dry or moist when exposed to those lows.

Just thought it worth mentioning...there's good deal more to consider when thinking about the lows. Some food for thought.

I've only been growing orchids since '07 (or thereabout) but I've been growing tropicals for...well...more years than I care to count...and IME, Intermediate growers are going to do better when kept no colder than 55. They will do even better if kept no cooler than 60F. I used to keep my house set at 55 during the Winter...bumped to 58 a few years ago...last year I bumped that to 60 as my low...and at each increase I've noticed improved results w/my orchids. They did fine w/55 but they did better last year at 60. I bumped because of my warmer growers like the phals...and a few of my warmer growing catts...those are the ones I saw noticeable improvement. My intermediate growers...the differences weren't as noticeable....at least not that first year.

Warm/hot growers - best not to go below 60....some would say keep them above 65 for a night time low.

[BettyE]

At 60 degrees, the heater comes on in the greenhouse. The orchids "do better" when they do not get below that temperature at night. I grow mostly "warm" growing hybrids & species. In the Summer, on the other hand, it can briefly reach 100 degrees...BettyE.

[flexdc]

For those of us living in Southern California our cold nights are very different than the cool autumn evenings back East. We experience absolute minimum temps in the 40s or even high 30s in the middle of the winter a few nights of the year and usually the day time temperature rises back up to the balmy 60s. In the colder parts of the country the night time temp may say 40 something, but factor in bone chilling winds from Canada and low daytime temps only in the 50s, most orchids will not thrive in these conditions. I grow all my oncidiums out side. My night time temp can sometimes go into the 40s, but that is only for a few nights a year. If temp drops to the 40s back East I would advice you to bring them in.
Andrew