Help needed! Lights, cats and moving!
I'm moving next month closer to my job to a bigger place with a really big windowsill that has unobstructed west, north and a little bit of obstructed south exposure (that windowsill sealed the deal, I was sold the moment I saw that).
But... now I have 3 questions:
1) I've been growing most of my orchids under lights because my west facing window is small and obstructed and my electricity bill is really cheap in the part of town I'm currently living. I'm sure it will be a lot more expensive in my new apartment. Do you think I can rebloom my orchids in my windowsill only on natural light (I live in Mexico City, btw)? (I'm concerned about my NOID Cattleya, Neofinetias, Brassavolas, Encyclias, Lycastes and Catasetinae).
2) I grow some cool growing orchids in another room that has almost no natural light, so it's a lot cooler than the rest of the house. That's where I grow my Cymbidium, Zygopetalum, an Encyclia adenocaula and where I give a winter rest to the orchids that need it (mainly neos, S. japonica, Dendrobiums, etc) . Will my cool growing orchids be able to rebloom if I can't provide a cooler temperatures? Do you have any tips for growing cooler growing orchids in the same room as warmer ones?
3) I'm moving in with someone that has 2 cats. I'm terrified for my orchids. I have a lot of small and miniature orchids that could easily be severely damaged if a cat decides to nibble them. I've already bought a Scat Mat just in case, and I plan to move them slowly (starting with a Cymbidium and an Oncidium that won't mind losing a leaf or 2) and spraying the hell out of them with really spicy peppers and bitter things. Any other tips?
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