So who has brought their plants inside already?

[Leafmite]

They should be okay if it doesn't dip into the forties ('F) and you have a breeze. We have temperatures in the 40's ('F) and wet so that a bit too risky for me. Next week is going to be decent weather here, too, but I am glad that the task of bringing everything inside is finished.

[My Green Pets]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Soup and Irish coffee weather!

Now *that* is a fine idea, sir.

Originally Posted by Leafmite

They should be okay if it doesn't dip into the forties ('F) and you have a breeze.

This brings me relief. I *felt* like they would be ok, but there was some doubt.

[lotis146]

We've been having low 50s and high 40s for maybe a week now. The majority of my collection - except for those flowering and some others - stayed out until today. Got busy or else I would have brought them in a few days ago though they badly needed watering and there's no reason I shouldn't take advantage of their still being outside for the sake of watering with the hose! But of course watering and the windy cold don't go together so had to water, had to bring in. Otherwise I was going to leave them out till next week when I'm planning to do some kind of chemical treatment (most likely Physan again) and it'll be a little warmer again so they can stay out and dry. Meanwhile my only Cymbidium will stay out...couple months new to me.

So far none of them have shown signs of suffering from what cold nights they have experienced. I've been rather stubborn and behind in preparing them for this so my setup is well not so much a setup ...yet. I'm getting some bigger shelves and accepting that for now (if ever I finish the basement) my dining room will have to do for a grow room. I've got some lights I'm going to set up as well...work in progress as always...

While bringing everything in is a lot of work I agree with others that it's nice to be more up close and personal again. Today while moving Lc. Mini Purple 'Elfin Blue' and crossing my fingers the bud doesn't blast b/c the move I discovered another growth has a little bud coming up!! Yeah! Being a nerd and all I am enjoying taking notes. But now I'm going to have to move them all twice in order to treat... does anyone NOT do some kind of treatment before they bring them in?

[My Green Pets]

Lotis, last year I didn't treat at all before bringing everything in. I had a few problems with pillbugs in pots. Also found a couple of roaches. Something was eating my Phals' root tips for awhile. And then there were a few spiders as well.

This year, I've been using Bayer complete insect killer once a week since early September. I would prefer to keep the stowaways to a minimum this time.

[Leafmite]

That is pretty smart. It seems that autumn always takes me by surprise. I always think I am going to blast the plants with Malathion but I never quite get around to it. :|

[Ray]

I turned on the heater in the greenhouse today.

For folks wanting to treat their plants prior to bringing them in, I have added a variety of pesticides to my product list - generic versions of imidicloprid (Merit), spinosad, permethrin/tetramethrin, and Thiomyl (Cleary's), and if my supplier can get their shipping department to do the right thing (3rd try), acephate (Orthene) in a couple of days.

[Orchid Whisperer]

It seems like it has been raining here for ages . . . however, temperatures have not yet dropped so much that I need to take plants indoors.

Also, I am hoping to get another couple of treatments with Imidacloprid before bringing things in. To eliminate unseen "house guests" such as mealies or scale, I had intended to treat weekly for a full month - due to weather, I have had to skip 2 weeks. I should be able to resume during the coming week after a few days to dry out.

[estación seca]

Have people tried incorporating imidacloprid granules into terrestrial mixes or sphagnum? It is sold as grub granules for lawns. A lot of cactus and succulent growers incorporate about 1/4 tsp / 1.25ml of these granules in the soil filling a 4" / 10cm diameter pot.

[Leafmite]

If the granular stuff also contains fertilizer, you must be careful that the fertilizer isn't too strong for the plants with which you are using it. For many years, I used the Bayer 3-in-1 granular rose systemic on many of my house plants a month before bringing them indoors to prevent problems but I think they must have changed something as the last time I did this, it killed quite a few of my plants and nearly killed my cinnamon tree. I just use it on the roses, now.
I always liked it because, once adding it, you did not need to use it for six weeks. I noticed that the new stuff is good for eight weeks.

[estación seca]

Here they sell Bayer and other manufacturer 'grub granules' with solely imidacloprid. The big box stores here only carry permethrin derivatives, but the smaller hardware and garden stores carry imidacloprid.