Phal's & Outdoor Night Temperatures

[Paul Mc]

Can phal's take nighttime temperatures in the lower 50's and upper 40's? My research seems to indicate that the best low temperature is from 55 and up, and that occassional dips (lasting maybe 1 or 2 nights) would be alright.

I'm wondering because we went from 70s at night to lower 50's and are expected to dip into the 40's two times in the 4 days. I feel that my phal's haven't had enough cool night-time temperatures to spike since we had such a tremendous jump in St. Louis.

Your thoughts?

[Ray]

I think going into the 40's is a problem from two directions:

1) The plants will tend to go dormant if exposed to cold temperatures.

2) If the potting medium is wet, subjecting the plant yo the 40's will result in root damage. Phals hate cold and wet roots.

[orchidsamore]

I grow all my orchids commercially outside year round and the temps regularly go to 40 or even 35 most nights in the winter. With plastic coving the shade houses go from 40-104 every day.

They handle it fine if you do not expose them to it too fast. I have not lost an orchid to cold in 2 years treating about 10,000 this way.

[tucker85]

I haven't had any problems with Phals in the upper 40's. If it gets to the lower 40's I would deffinately try to protect them from the wind and maybe even bring them inside. I find that cold snaps encourage my Phals to bloom. Good luck.

[nutgirl]

I have had night temps in the low 50's/upper 40's for the last several weeks. Daytime temps are upper 80's.

My phals are actively growing with roots, leaves and spiking.

I'm watching things closely since as Ray mentioned, they don't like cold wet roots.

Maureen

[Eyebabe]

For many plants, as long as they are acclimated to the temperature extremes...they can tolerate ranges somewhat outside the recommended range.
Certainly, my home-bound phals would drop over dead if they sat a few nights at 40 degrees.
If your plants have spent most of the season outside, then unless it's a radical drop or swing I would imagine they could do okay.

[fotofashion]

My hybrid phals never see outdoors. If I get them repotted this winter then I will introduce them to the outdoors next spring. Last winter was an extremely cold one for our area. It went to 32 in the GH a couple of times and nothing, not even the phals were affected. Of course, if they were exposed to cold winds the results might be different.
So, there are obviously several factors to take into consideration. You could always experiment with a couple of "rescue" NOID plants that you are not particularly enamored with.
Beverly A.

[Paul Mc]

Thank you for your thoughts everyone!

[Orchid126]

Bear in mind the location of the plants. If they are near the house or a building or bushes, those will throw off heat during the night and keep the plant warmer than if the plants were out in the open.

Also remember, as Ray says, cold and dry is better than cold and wet.

[phalaephila]

And please let us note the difference between survive and thrive. Slightly warmer temperatures may help them grow better in the future, cooler temps (below 55) could keep them from growing as well, especially if left wet.