PSA: now is the time to prepare for the season change

[tmoney]

hello ob,

once again, we have passed the equinox, and fall/winter is setting in for the northern hemisphere. if you haven’t washed all your plants and prepped for winter, now is the time. we here at dilapidated orchids galore suggest a light wash of all leaves and media with a mild soap solution.

wash those leaves and get em hyped for low light!!

also, as a follow up to last years PSA, please make sure that no extreme drafts or cold spells are present from forgotten open doors and windows.

have a great winter, and we wish you all unexpected spikes and magical, cold, dark nights of the lean season....

edit: if you r in the Southern Hemisphere...can we come and visit?!

[Ray]

Düsseldorf is a lot farther north than here. We’ve had a few days when the temperature has approached 50F at night, with highs in the upper 60’s to low 70’s, since the hurricane passed through, but 80’s are the norm here for this time of year. My plants will come inside for the winter in about 3 weeks or so.

No clean up quite yet, which mostly consists of removing leaves dropped by the *$#§&@ sweetgums, but I will be doing my “Ray, Don’t you dare let them bring in any bugs” treatments shortly.

[Dalachin]

What do you treat yours with, Ray?

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by Ray

Düsseldorf is a lot farther north than here. We’ve had a few days when the temperature has approached 50F at night, with highs in the upper 60’s to low 70’s, since the hurricane passed through, but 80’s are the norm here for this time of year. My plants will come inside for the winter in about 3 weeks or so.

No clean up quite yet, which mostly consists of removing leaves dropped by the *$#§&@ sweetgums, but I will be doing my “Ray, Don’t you dare let them bring in any bugs” treatments shortly.

hahaha, i do miss me summa them southern trees! enjoy your fall and those nice coastal evenings, ray!

[estación seca]

The earliest frost at my house since 1986 was November 21. Many years I have no frost. I put a lot of plants out in Fall for most of the Winter, bringing them in for a few days when frost threatens.

[rbarata]

Too soon for it. We are still above 30°C. And most of my outdoor plants stay there the whole year.

[WaterWitchin]

I have my Catasetum outside and a couple of reedstem Epis. Then random houseplants. ferns and etc. Just got up this morning to a freeze alert for Saturday morning.

Off to the annual scramble of pulling plants in, and wondering where I kept them all winter. Very timely PSA... and as usual ignored until it's Oh sh*t time.
{{sigh}}

[Subrosa]

The only container plants I have outside now are good as long we don't get a freeze, which is still a couple weeks away. One of the nicest things about growing hardy terrestrial orchids is waiting for the first freeze, covering them with pine needles and not worrying about them again until April.

[Relemitty]

Hey WW, you made me go look at my WX forcast.
Whew, no freeze yet for me.

I have a big potted Hibiscus that hated the abnormal heat this summer and is now blooming like crazy.
I've brought it in several years for the winter and If I don't trim it back it will bloom all winter (Which is cool) but then stop about March and rest all summer.
A Mandevilla too that will be joining the Hibiscus.
I gotta make some room near a window.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Just got up this morning to a freeze alert for Saturday morning.

Off to the annual scramble of pulling plants in, and wondering where I kept them all winter.
{{sigh}}

I remember those days. Many plants spent the winter in the first open space I could find. I learned to put down heavy plasic landscape sheeting.

Originally Posted by Relemitty

I have a big potted Hibiscus that hated the abnormal heat this summer and is now blooming like crazy.
I've brought it in several years for the winter and If I don't trim it back it will bloom all winter (Which is cool) but then stop about March and rest all summer.

I'm surprised at that. Here they flower all year, especially through intense summer heat and sun. I stand potted plants in deep dishes. They absorb all the water every day. Maybe more water? And they flower much more profusely all year with lots of fertilizer.