When to bring catasetinae inside?

[Jeff214]

Around what minimum temps do you bring your catasetums, clowesias, cycnoches, and mormodias inside? The minimum temps in my area are going to the mid 50s by next week. Some have finished growing while some have started new growths.

[Roberta]

I bring mine in when night temps are around 55 deg F. (they can go a bit lower, but that's my target) Where I live, that probably won't be until at least the end of October, maybe into November. Most are still quite leafy... a few signs of impending dormancy (starting to drop leaves) but they're still mostly going strong. Especially since days have been quite warm, I'm still watering a lot, but when they come in will probably be when I start to taper off a little. Most won't be dormant enough to stop watering until pretty late in December. They don't all start to snooze at once just like they don't all wake up at once. Let the plants tell you... if they haven't pretty much lost leaves by January you can push them by totally cutting out watering. But don't rush it this early.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I bring mine in when night temps are around 55 deg F. (they can go a bit lower, but that's my target) Where I live, that probably won't be until at least the end of October, maybe into November. Most are still quite leafy... a few signs of impending dormancy (starting to drop leaves) but they're still mostly going strong. Especially since days have been quite warm, I'm still watering a lot, but when they come in will probably be when I start to taper off a little. Most won't be dormant enough to stop watering until pretty late in December. They don't all start to snooze at once just like they don't all wake up at once. Let the plants tell you... if they haven't pretty much lost leaves by January you can push them by totally cutting out watering. But don't rush it this early.

Me too.

However, I have a looooooot of brand new growths kicking off right now. Gonna be a weird winter!

[Jeff214]

A few of my dendrobiums have started to spike and now a few of my catasetinae types have started new growths... perhaps due to the recent cool period followed by another heatwave. My plants are so confused!

Roberta, I'm jealous of your coastal climate. I was living in the that climate zone last year and never went below 55 all winter. My new place won't be so warm during the winter! I'm trying to figure out which orchid will stay out and which will come in for the winter.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

My new place won't be so warm during the winter! I'm trying to figure out which orchid will stay out and which will come in for the winter.

Winter nights definitely go below 55 deg F at my house (will be early November, probably)... anything that lives outside has to tolerate down to mid-30's F . (It doesn't get that cold often, but one has to plan for the "corner cases" not the average) Low 40's F are pretty standard. Take a look at the plant list on my website to see what I grow totally outside, and what will be brought in for the winter (as well as the greenhouse babies)