Bringing orchids inside

[lotis146]

It's been really cool in Michigan, highs in the 60s and 40s at night. I brought my budding (one bloom opening now) Zygolum, mini Catt, Paph. Lebaudyanum, Paph. Odette's Vision, couple Phals, & Paph Hawaiian Illusion inside and they still are but I haven't sprayed them because I plan to put them back out.

In the meantime most of my group is still outside. That includes: bunch of mini Catts, Zygo hybrid, couple Phals, some Paphs, couple Oncids incl Tolumnias. What actually worried me the most was that it rained before it got cold but as far as I can tell they're all still okay. So CambriaWhat I think yours should be okay, you are in warmer climates than me.

Thanks for sharing you experiences everyone! Question though, how does dunking work with Phals?

[mimigirl]

Seems like everyone here is friendly on this site. I like hearing about different parts of the world are from its residents.

[Tschimm]

Yes, we can learn a lot here from people all over the world :-)

@lotis
In my experience, coldness is really dangerous in combination with wet weather. I had some rot on new growths even in August. We had a very cold and wet summer here. So I'm bringing the mounts in when it's rainy, even when the temperatures don't go below 55.
Dunking is working with pots too. Just be aware of floating media.

[RosieC]

In the past I've just dunked them in coffee solution (half strength coffee). If they were all close and touching each other outside I don't worry about using the same dunk for a small batch at a time. I leave them standing in it for about 15min in the dark and things like slugs come crawling out (so I can pick them off) and I've read that the coffee will kill eggs and stuff in the medium.

It's seemed to work the last few years. Had no problems once they came in.

[Vanda lover]

I've never thought of using coffee! Here it is getting down to 7 C at night and I have sprayed with a mixture made from stewed rhubarb leaves and alcohol. I have brought in all of the warm growing orchids but left the others out for now.

[Cntry]

Originally Posted by RosieC

In the past I've just dunked them in coffee solution (half strength coffee). If they were all close and touching each other outside I don't worry about using the same dunk for a small batch at a time. I leave them standing in it for about 15min in the dark and things like slugs come crawling out (so I can pick them off) and I've read that the coffee will kill eggs and stuff in the medium.

It's seemed to work the last few years. Had no problems once they came in.

Rosie do you know if the coffee would hurt the seedlings I have still outside? With them being so small yet I worry about using the chemicals on them.

I would rather smell the coffee instead of the chemicals.

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by Tschimm

Yes, we can learn a lot here from people all over the world :-)

@lotis
In my experience, coldness is really dangerous in combination with wet weather. I had some rot on new growths even in August. We had a very cold and wet summer here. So I'm bringing the mounts in when it's rainy, even when the temperatures don't go below 55.
Dunking is working with pots too. Just be aware of floating media.

One of my rescue Phals I got later in the summer and thought I'd killed was damaged by the wet cold conditions but so far it seems most everyone else fared well. I did bring them in I think the night I last responded to this thread. They've been inside while the temps were cold but will go back out during the now warmer conditions at which point I'm going to spray them all to saturation with Neem oil solution (mixed with water).

Originally Posted by mimigirl

Seems like everyone here is friendly on this site. I like hearing about different parts of the world are from its residents.

Yes I agree, I've not witnessed the extensive bickering normally present on forums. Sure there has been some but mostly people seem less "touchy" here, maybe it's the Zen influence of the Orchids!

Originally Posted by RosieC

In the past I've just dunked them in coffee solution (half strength coffee). If they were all close and touching each other outside I don't worry about using the same dunk for a small batch at a time. I leave them standing in it for about 15min in the dark and things like slugs come crawling out (so I can pick them off) and I've read that the coffee will kill eggs and stuff in the medium.

It's seemed to work the last few years. Had no problems once they came in.

Wow, coffee? What do you do mix say half gallon of coffee with half gallon water, 50/50 mix? Do you wet the vegetation too? I've yet, but about to, experience the aroma of Neem oil but have to agree, coffee would be better.

Thanks for sharing! Do you all have many earwigs present? I'm not sure now but earlier in the season I found earwigs in the plants ALL THE TIME. They go running when I watered whether dunking or hosing.

Originally Posted by Cntry

Rosie do you know if the coffee would hurt the seedlings I have still outside? With them being so small yet I worry about using the chemicals on them.

I would rather smell the coffee instead of the chemicals.

Cntry, are they still outside?

[butterfly_muse]

I am glad for this thread, I was going to start my own for this! I do have a question that I don't think has been addressed yet - what to do about critters living inside of the orchid pots? Specifically, I have slugs living in mine. It got into the high 40s over night the last two nights, and I brought my orchids in but as I was drenching them, ants started crawling all over my kitchen table, and I found like 5 slugs inside one of my cattleyas. So I sprayed them with an insecticide for the ants, but ended up putting them in my garden shed for the last two nights because it's warmer in there than it is outside.

But what do I do about the slugs?

[cbuchman]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

I am glad for this thread, I was going to start my own for this! I do have a question that I don't think has been addressed yet - what to do about critters living inside of the orchid pots? Specifically, I have slugs living in mine. It got into the high 40s over night the last two nights, and I brought my orchids in but as I was drenching them, ants started crawling all over my kitchen table, and I found like 5 slugs inside one of my cattleyas. So I sprayed them with an insecticide for the ants, but ended up putting them in my garden shed for the last two nights because it's warmer in there than it is outside.

But what do I do about the slugs?

Two suggestions for the slugs. First sit the pot in water - right up to the rim. The slugs will come to the surface and can be picked off. You can also put out a dish of beer - slugs love it - they fall in an drown. However, you must be diligent as the slugs can lay eggs in your media. So you might have to repeat the process if you see signs of them again, typically in the spring when warmer weather hits.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by cbuchman

Two suggestions for the slugs. First sit the pot in water - right up to the rim. The slugs will come to the surface and can be picked off. You can also put out a dish of beer - slugs love it - they fall in an drown. However, you must be diligent as the slugs can lay eggs in your media. So you might have to repeat the process if you see signs of them again, typically in the spring when warmer weather hits.

Thanks! I did actually water my orchids the other night, and one slug crawled out and disappeared somewhere in my house. I freaked out, but my husband thinks the cats got it, lol. Hopefully they did.

The other slugs, however, did not really seem that phased. Would repotting the orchids be advisable? They have been in the same pots for two summers now (though they aren't climbing out of them yet), so it might benefit them to get some new media anyway. If I do that and use the aforementioned methods to get rid of insects/fungus/everything else, would that work?