Catasetum temperature help

[PuiPuiMolcar]

The winter here is approaching from 50 F to consistently around the 40 F at night. I'm not so sure if I should leave my catasetum outside anymore. I plan to put them in my grow tent where the tempt is 65-75, but I'm afraid that will disrupt its dormancy cycle as none of them are fully entering that stage yet. What should I do? most online info say keep them no lower than 50F, but not much say about how low can they handle in winter or during dormancy.

[Clawhammer]

If you are consistently going under 50 I would bring them in.

[Roberta]

I agree, bring them in. NOW! ... tonight is going to be cold...no cloud cover, it's already pretty chilly. (I bring mine in when temps are below 55, and most are still quite green) Dormancy has nothing to do with temperature. It's a reaction to reduction of water, partly. The rest? An "internal clock" that anticipates the end of the rainy season. (They'll start to go dormant even if they're still being watered in most cases) How do they "know"? Not a clue. Likely not day length... in the tropics days and nights are pretty much equal all year. Temperature? In most of their habitats it stays warm. And they also wake up in spring in anticipation of the rainy season... before they actually get any water. They "know" what is coming. But they don't want to be cold, for sure. You should be greatly reducing water too, even if they are green. Sometimes you have to push dormancy... if they haven't lost leaves by the end of December, stop watering anyway.

They don' t need the grow tent. Just put them someplace where they are out of the way. They don't particularly need light, they really don't need anything during their winter "nap".

[PuiPuiMolcar]

thanks everyone, these little guys are now evacuated to my windowsill

[estación seca]

We're predicted to have lows in the mid 30s F / 2-6C for the next few days. I'm glad I brought in everything tender.