Cold snap spikes

[bil]

Normally, I have a good relationship with the weather, -fairly soon it will be cool enough to bring the orchids into the greenhouse, then in Jan when the weather turns cold, the phals sitting under the bench spike and then by the time it is warm enough in Spring for them to go out, they are ready to flower properly.
Two weeks back we had two nights that went down to 12C, which quite caught me out. Yesterday looking at the phals I can see that quite a few are spiking, which means they will be in full flower before sppring comes, which is a shame, as sitting under the bench they are very vulnnerable to damage.

Ah well...

[Ray]

The time from cooling-to-spiking is typically about six-, to eight weeks, so that recent dip in temperature probably had nothing to do with the spiking.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Ray

The time from cooling-to-spiking is typically about six-, to eight weeks, so that recent dip in temperature probably had nothing to do with the spiking.

Interesting, as we hadn't had any cold snaps prior to that.

[Arizona Jeanie]

Bil, bring them in the house when they bloom!!
My phals were outdoors on the screened porch all summer, recently came in when night temps went to the 40's (F). I think I'm seeing spikes starting on several of them. Last year they went to a cool room in November before they'd spike, I may not need that this year. In my experience (which isn't much), Ray's information on average temp drops to initiate blooming in Phals is right on.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by bil

Interesting, as we hadn't had any cold snaps prior to that.

Maybe they're not responding to a cold snap...

I moved all of my (remaining) plants from a greenhouse in PA to a deck in NC. ALL of my phals bloomed this summer, and there has been nothing resembling a chill.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Arizona Jeanie

Bil, bring them in the house when they bloom!!

I'm in an old fashioned Spanish house with just a single woodburner to heat it, so houseplants just aren't a thing here.