Low Temps for Orchids While We're Away for Holidays

[jrodpad]

Total Newbie Question for the group.

I usually keep the house around 70 during the day and 55-58 at night. The orchids seem to be happy with this arrangement and have been doing quite well.

We left the house on Wednesday for the holidays and set the thermostat all the way down to 55 (day and night). I return to the house tomorrow (Sunday), and I'm not quite sure whether I should expect a house full of cold, shriveled brown orchids due to the constant low temperatures for 5 days.

Have I committed mass orchidside? Or should the orchids be mostly alright - if not a bit grumpy. Does anyone have experience with extended lows?

Happy for any advice.

Thanks.

[Becca]

55 - 58 at night? Brrr! I keep my night temps around 63 - 64. I guess I'd rather be warm then drop the temp down that low for my orchids...lol. I would think if your 'chids can handle night temps of 55 - 58 at night that they should be able to handle day temps of 55 for several days, but that is just my thinking...I've never tried it before. You will have to update us when you get home. And perhaps some one else will have some better feedback for you!

[ronaldhanko]

You should be okay as long as nothing is too wet - the warmer growing orchids do not like the combination of cool temps and wetness. The cool temps may even help in that the orchids will not need much water or care.

[RosieC]

It can all depend on what orchids you are growing. Some like colder temperatures than others.

If they are Phals then I think they will cope, although they will go a bit dormant. I'm not sure on other types, I have a Masdi which should be enjoying the cold and some orchids would maybe cope with it so cold. But I think most will be alright and just go dormant.

[jrodpad]

Interesting.

I'm unfamiliar with the concept of dormancy with respect to orchids. Is there anything special that I should do to bring them out of dormancy? Should the high temps during the day be gradually increased so as not to shock the orchids back from dormancy? Should I withhold watering for a while until they're all warmed up? Or is it business as usual when we return?

Thanks so much for sharing.

- Jrod

[BikerDoc5968]

JR, I would agree totally with Ron. Even when I'm home I try to drop the G/H to 58 ~ 60 and for sure when away as I did last week maintain about 62 24/7 because there isn't anyone to go out there to kick it up during the day and when I came home, I had 2 catts opened and several cymb breaking bud and no shriveled whimpy looking chids and also as Ron pointed out, at the cooler temps, the water requirement is much less. Certainly, your return will answer this question.... I trust things will be just fine!

[RosieC]

Some orchids require a dormancy period to stay healthy (like nobilis related Dendrobiums) and these need you to change the conditions in the winter so that they get that dormancy. You would usually reduce water to these to help them to go dormant.

Others (like Phals) don't need it and it's better to avoid if possible. But while they don't want/need a dormant period, if they go in to cold temps they will stop growing and new roots/leaves/spikes will stall (usually temporarily). These will generally naturally need less water during this period.

That's what I see on my Phals in the winter. I don't really keep the house warm enough for them and they just stop doing anything until the temps warm up again.

For me the temps just change with the weather. I only heat the house morning and evening and the rest of the time it just depends on the weather.

[trdyl]

Your plants should be fine Jrod. Mine get cooler than that closer to 40 in the winter due to drafts from the windows.

[Hedge]

I think they'll be fine. At least your postman won't put a parcel in your green house and leave the door open while you're away - so that your hot air is going straight outside when the snow hits. Like mine did......

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by Hedge

I think they'll be fine. At least your postman won't put a parcel in your green house and leave the door open while you're away - so that your hot air is going straight outside when the snow hits. Like mine did......

Ouch!