Outdoor overnight temperature?

[farley101]

Hey all,

Spring has (hopefully) gotten a foothold here in the Upper Midwest, looks like some nice daytime temps going forward after 2 weeks of cold.

Trying to figure out when I can finally keep my plants outdoors overnight. Looks like it will hit mid-40s tonight but in the low 50s or so after that. Daytime temps are looking mid 60s to mid 70s for the current forecast.

It was easy bringing them in and out last year with only a few plants, now that the collection is *a little* bigger, I'm looking forward to not moving them in and out for a while!

I've got mostly catts, with a few oncidiums, dens, catt seedlings. I'd guess that the catts should be fine, probably bring in the seedlings and anything small like that. Everything has been indoors at 65 all winter so they've not seen temps that chilly yet!

[SaraJean]

Do you know section or type of Dens you have? Den Phals, and other warm growing Dens like that, I would definitely leave inside until the nights are solidly in the 60’s. The Nobile/Semi-nobile and Callista types are fine in the 50’s

Don’t really grow very many Oncidiums, so I’ll let someone else answer that

[Roberta]

From what I know of Midwest weather, I think you need to be on the cautious side. Are you REALLY sure that there isn't going to be another cold snap? Others, who live closer to you and have experience with the weather patterns, should weigh in on this. But you don't want to get into a situation where you have to move everything again NOW.

[farley101]

I believe they are den phal hybrids, seedlings as well so they were coming inside as well.
Roberta, I've lived here my whole life so I know to lean on the side of caution, it's still May so it might snow yet! 😂

Trying to get a good idea of lower temperature boundaries that I should be watching for. If I have to wait until June then I will. It's not a huge deal to move everything, think today has been the 5th I've been able to get them outside so far this spring!

[Roberta]

I'd take a consistent 55 deg F as a benchmark. It allows a little slop - 50 for a few hours would be OK. But if it may go below that (or snow) keep 'em in for a few more weeks. Average isn't relevant, it's the extremes ( the "corner cases") that you have to figure into your calculations.

[Leafmite]

I am going to put my orchids out either this weekend or early next week. I always keep some large clear plastic drop cloths which I use to cover the orchids (weighted down with stones, always brought down to the ground) if it does get too cold for them. It works very well as the ground will be warmer and helps to keep the plants warm on the shelves above. My other tropical plants were outside when it was in the upper twenties/lower thirties at night this past week (except the coffee, the new passionfruit edulis, and new scented geraniums) and they all did fine.

Ohio's summers are completely unpredictable. We had a summer many years ago where it got very cold in June/July and even frosted at night for a few nights. I brought in the most tender of the tropical plants/orchids and left the rest outside, covered well. Everything was fine.

The plants I identify as very tender are ones that grow in the low altitudes within ten degrees of the equator or come from other hot climates that do not have a cold season. Phal bellina, Theobroma cacao, coffee, etc.

Good luck!

[farley101]

Leafmite, yes I know about the weather oddities that sometimes happen when you live close to the Canadian border!
I'll still pretty much err on the side of caution and bring them in, I don't have any plastic or anything else to use to cover my outdoor shelf at this time.
I recently picked up some cafeteria style trays for the plants to sit on for stability on my shelving, they work great to move 4-6 plants at once. Makes moving the 40 or so a lot easier!

[Roberta]

If you do get into a "weather emergency" one trick that I know about (learned from the co-worker who gave me my first orchid, a Cymbidium) is, string some incandescent Christmas lights above or around the plants, and then toss a bed sheet over them. (At the time that I learned about this, was before LEDs became popular, the incandescent ones might be harder to find now) But the idea is that they give off a gentle heat (you don't want to set that bed sheet on fire...) and the sheet provides just a bit of insulation to keep that heat around the plants.

[BrassavolaStars]

I am putting out my Cymbidiums out along with my citrus trees, large Dendrobium unifolium, speciosum, and Cestrum nocturnum.

I am going to hold off on taking my cattleyas out until I see minimum 60F at night. I won’t take my Vandas out until I get no lower than 65F either.

There is going to be one colder night of 47F and 50F on Tuesday-Thursday and I am debating bringing the plants I took out back inside. I would probably wait to take out anything that isn’t an Australian or soft-cane Dendrobium until the lowest possible temperature is 55F to play it safe.

[SouthPark]

We know the saying - better to be safe than sorry. Because if a cold night sneaks up and catches us unawares - then that could end in tears. A safety margin, or good margin of error will definitely be beneficial.