Left two phals in the cold.

[Ordphien]

Last fall, I moved two phals from the kitchen to the patio. Because I was renovating some things.
I promptly forgot about them, and found them again sometime last month.
So they were outside for all of our winter.
Temperatures reach a lovely 28 - 45 at night during January, and bits of February. They sat through the rain, the wind, even the 5 minutes of snow (omg we had snow!) and brief hail.

Despite the cold, I do know that I can keep sub tropical and tropical plants that are supposed to be grown warmer. So some factor I don't now about was obviously helping.

Anyway, suffice to say these phals were grown colder than they should've been.
What I found interesting is that they reacted in different ways.

One, is a phal amabillis. The other is a noid.
Amabillis lost every root, 4 leaves, and suffered a bit of damage. It's produced two basal keiki, and the mother plant has sent out a root. So I'm going to treat this as a happy accident. And look forward to big future displays.


The noid however, suffered very little damage. A few small spots of cold damage, and no root loss. And to my delight, 3 spikes! And one branched.

[LovePhals]

You left the phals out all winter in the 20s and 30s. I'm shocked they are ok. Plants are amazing sometimes, glad you got good growth and spikes!

[LizB88]

Goodness, I'm in the Bay Area and we did not the the crazy weather you guys down south got, and my phals don't like it when I leave them close to the window in the winter. You do have some strong genes in your plants!

[lotis146]

That's incredible! I almost jump out my seat when I hear people say that Orchids need tender care, your story is proof that that's mostly not true.

Three spikes!!?? Wow. I guess now you really know that that plant like cooler temps. Thanks for sharing.

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

You left the phals out all winter in the 20s and 30s. I'm shocked they are ok. Plants are amazing sometimes, glad you got good growth and spikes!

My area is crazy like that.
Drove me nuts when I was a kid. 26 degrees + rain = snow right? Wrong... just rain.

Originally Posted by LizB88

Goodness, I'm in the Bay Area and we did not the the crazy weather you guys down south got, and my phals don't like it when I leave them close to the window in the winter. You do have some strong genes in your plants!

Most of SoCal does not reach my minimum temperature.
I was so amazed. I saw them and thought "how come they aren't mush?"

Originally Posted by lotis146

That's incredible! I almost jump out my seat when I hear people say that Orchids need tender care, your story is proof that that's mostly not true.

Three spikes!!?? Wow. I guess now you really know that that plant like cooler temps. Thanks for sharing.

Cooler weather indeed.
I was genuinely shocked. I've attempted phals outside in the past and they just died in the cold.

[katrina]

Micro-climates can make things a good deal warmer and you must have a really nice one where those phals were sitting.

I used to grow several types/colors of full sized cannas in one of my beds and I never lifted them in the winter. For the first 10yrs (until I revamped that bed) I had cannas come up every year...after spending an Ohio winter in the ground. Many people told me it was impossible and yet...there they were...not missing a beat after our winters. The micro-climate on that side of the house was such that those tropical plants survived an Ohio winter and came back every year. And trust me...they were amazing. When I finally dug them up to re-do the bed I couldn't believe the tubers I had. We had many happy friends that year.

So, yea, micro-climates...they can be quite interesting.

Given how well those phals did...I bet you could easily grow some orchids there year round. Some of the hardier/aussie dens come to mind. Or Cyms.

[Fiacre]

This is such a cool story!

LovePhals is right - plants really are amazing. Such resilient, yet fickle creatures. I'm very happy to see your phals doing so well after enduring those temps.

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by katrina

Micro-climates can make things a good deal warmer and you must have a really nice one where those phals were sitting.

I used to grow several types/colors of full sized cannas in one of my beds and I never lifted them in the winter. For the first 10yrs (until I revamped that bed) I had cannas come up every year...after spending an Ohio winter in the ground. Many people told me it was impossible and yet...there they were...not missing a beat after our winters. The micro-climate on that side of the house was such that those tropical plants survived an Ohio winter and came back every year. And trust me...they were amazing. When I finally dug them up to re-do the bed I couldn't believe the tubers I had. We had many happy friends that year.

So, yea, micro-climates...they can be quite interesting.

Given how well those phals did...I bet you could easily grow some orchids there year round. Some of the hardier/aussie dens come to mind. Or Cyms.

Who knew the direct middle of my yard was better than near the wall?

Originally Posted by Fiacre

This is such a cool story!

LovePhals is right - plants really are amazing. Such resilient, yet fickle creatures. I'm very happy to see your phals doing so well after enduring those temps.

Me too. I'm proud of the amabilis. I must've tried to kill it 8 times now.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

I must say, you are lucky with what two Phals you do have, YES, some of them can definitely take some cold, but in 20's and 30's is truly extreme for them to survive, and my Phals are always the first plants that show any "dislike" to our cold fronts, loosing many leaves and spikes! So as amazing as this is (and it truly is), this can't be set as an example, because most likely 90% of Phals will die under these conditions.

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

I must say, you are lucky with what two Phals you do have, YES, some of them can definitely take some cold, but in 20's and 30's is truly extreme for them to survive, and my Phals are always the first plants that show any "dislike" to our cold fronts, loosing many leaves and spikes! So as amazing as this is (and it truly is), this can't be set as an example, because most likely 90% of Phals will die under these conditions.

I tried phals outside in the past and they perished.
So these were truly remarkable.
I wouldn't try this again. And these phals are back inside where they belong.

The temperatures only reach that low for an hour or two at night.

During the day was much warmer at 50 - 75.