How do you move orchids in 32º weather?

[piaffe97]

! It's been awhile since I've posted anything...fortunately my flowers have been surviving! I'm moving this weekend, and I've got one dendrobium, one mini phal, and 4 phals (1 JUST rebloomed and 2 are ready to rebloom in 1-2 days). It's in the 30's outside and they're calling for snow flurries this weekend. Any tips as to how to safely get them to and from the car and how to adjust them to the new environment? Thanks in advance for any advice!!!!!

[Becca]

The only advice I can think of is have your car pre-warmed and run from the house to the car as fast as you can!

[piaffe97]

Lol believe me....I plan on it!!!! (with the music from Rocky playing in the background)

[Becca]

I moved all of my orchids last Febuary, it was still pretty cold then but I can't recall how cold it was...but that is pretty much what I did....got the vehicle as close as possible to the house and made a mad dash for it!

[BikerDoc5968]

It really isn't all that much. get a box or large paper bag and place the plants inside. If you use a large box just cover the top. The short distance to a warmed car shouldn't do much harm. Keep in mind any time you "relocate" Phals you run the risk of blast to new flower buds no matter what you do to protect them; not to mention the new digs may be sufficiently different in light, temperature, humidity and air circulation that they may blast anyway unrelated to how they get from A to B. Good news is that they will re-flower next year. I've picked up chids (paphs in spike mostly) from my friend's home in the dead of winter with outside temps in the low 20's and just use a bag and box and they do just fine.

[BobInBonita]

I agree wholeheartedly with BikerDoc. When I lived in MN, most of mine came home during winter with no problems, and I frequently would transport a blooming phal to the office without bud blast (as long as I kept it away from windows and drafts).

Just be careful not to get stuck in a snowbank.

[bullsie]

If you suspect you will be making frequent 'shut offs' and/or the doors/windows will be opening and closing frequently then just use those styrofoam coolers to put them in.

[Ray]

Put paper on top of the medium and tape it to the pot. That will prevent spillage while you run to- and from the car.

If you can wrap the entire plant-and-pot in several layers of newspaper, again securing with tape, you'll have plenty of insulation to prevent excessive cooling when going between warm buildings and vehicles. Putting them into a closed box is an added layer.

[trdyl]

I prefer boxing during cold weather moves.

[CTB]

Using an ice chest sounds like a great idea, so does newspaper. The wrapping is a way for less damage, and the ice chest sounds like a good temp. control. You could fill a jar with hot water and place it in the box with the wrapped orchids. Almost the way they are shipped during winter. That would give you a little more time to get them situated.