Don't confuse phalenopsis (as a family of plants) and a phalenopsis type dendrobium. The phalenopsis family has one single upright growth "stem" and the leaves come out of the center of the leaf just below it. They all do have the "big, fat, elongated leaves" that grow out of the center of the previous leaf. While you can't see a "stem" the base of the leaves produce one structure that grows up into the air thus the name monopodial.
On the other hand, dendrobiums have many individual "stems" that look like stems but are called canes. Each cane has "nodes" or rings around the stem, an inch to a couple of inches apart. Each leaf grows directly out of the cane and is a different structure from the previous leaf. Each new growth will be a new and separate cane growing from the base of the plant. The phalenopsis type dendrobium refers to the ones that produce an inflorescence - a stalk of many flowers that comes out of the cane near the top. The nobile types have the flowers come out of the canes in groups of 1, 2, or 3 and these appear along a length of the cane, not along an inflorescense.
I have posted a pic in the Blooming Flower thread of this Board that shows our Den. Superbum "Sweet Fragrance". This is a nobile type Den. and you can see the flowers coming out of the cane. Maybe this will make what I'm describing clearer.
As to the temp change, don't worry about it. Most orchids you buy can stand your house temps and any fluctuation they might get. However, if the temp goes below 55, the plants might have a growth pause until the temp stays above that. As I said, don't worry about your house temps - your orchids should be fine.
Sandra in South Carolina
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