Too cold for phals?

[greenpassion]

I could kick myself. I have gone and created a set up, bought lights, plants, humidity trays, and more..but now I realize that my orchids, some oncidiums and several phals will not do well for me, as we keep the house at 60 to 62 all winter. We can't afford to keep the thermostat up higher. Is this true? Is this all for naught? Will phals and onciduims do ok with the temps this cool?

[Otis226]

I believe Phals and certainly most oncidium should do okay overwintering at 60-62oF, if kept a bit drier than in summer (?), but not being a great Phal grower myself, perhaps we should wait until a more experienced voice answers. I just recently bought a small elec. ceramic heater for our lanai this winter, specifically for my vandas and phals, but now I'm concerned about my dends. that need a cool winter rest!
Good luck,
Tony

[Gage]

If you have designated shelving you might consider putting clear plastic around them, creating an environment that will certainly warm up from your grow lights.

[Bud]

60's is good for any orchids...even vandas will survive in that temperature as long as it is not wet&damp(fungi, bacteria and algae will thive)...humidity must still be at least above 50%. The coldest that any equatorial tropical country could have is 60F (Thailand, Borneo and some south american countries in the equator) and this is in December to February...it can be extended til April when the temperate zones thaw and warm weather begins.

[tucker85]

Like Bud said, you won't have any problems with phals or oncidiums in the 60's. I grow my plants outside in Florida and I only bring my phals and vandas inside if it's going to be below 50F. Otherwise everything is out in the weather. Your plants will be growing very slowly or not at all so you don't need much water or fertilizer.

[WhiteRabbit]

In winter, my thermostat is set for 53 overnight, low 60s daytime - the few Phals I have have been ok with it, and the Oncidium alliance plants are quite fine with it.

[Becca]

Don't forget the lights will provide some additional heat as well depending on what kind they are!

[ezil]

Becca is right, your plants will experience warmer temps. during the day. Another low cost item you may want to consider for your phals is a heat mat. If you also enclose your growing area with plastic, as has been suggested, you have a sure winner, because you will automatically provide a drop in temps. when lights and mat are switched off. Kick yourself for having had so many good ideas, and enjoy your orchids!

[silken]

All of my phals, oncids, catts etc. etc. live in my greenhouse all winter. At night the temp goes to 55 and is 65 in the day. As others have said, they do fine. The one thing I really need to be careful of is not to over water. They do better on the drier side. For my Phals, I do have them enclosed in their own little habitat within the greenhouse that protects them from any cold drafts that might come from the windows. Our temps in winter do go to the -30's or worse so the windows get pretty cold! None of my plants are at the windows tho.

The other thing you could do is get one heat mat and plug it in where the phals are growing and that would generate a bit of extra heat. I have some seedlings on one and they will remain there for the winter.

[Paul Mc]

They should be just fine, but I am curious if you know what the daytime temp is in relation to how low the temp gets at night. Hopefully, your home won't get too much cooler than around 55 degrees F at night. That would be a bit pushing it for phal's, but they should be fine.

As a side note, I leave my phal's and oncidiums out until temperatures average around 55 to 60 degrees outside. That means they do experience occassional unexpected dips lower than that and thay have all survived.