More cold weather panic setting in!

[greenbean]

Only in my dreams (and my parents nightmares).

[Ranchnanny]

LOL!

Sheridan

[cb977]

[smweaver]

Sheridan, if your temperatures are going to drop significantly lower than what your plants (especially the phalaenopsis) are used to, my suggestion would be for you to avoid watering them until the temperatures go back up to a reasonable level (and "reasonable" will depend on the type of orchids you're growing). The plants are usually much more able to handle cooler-than-normal temperatures if they're on the dry side. How many phalaenopsis do you have? If it's not a huge number you might consider putting paper grocery bags over them at night or some cardboard boxes. Either will create a "tent" that should also help maintain a microclimate around the plants that's slightly warmer than the surrounding air in the rest of the greenhouse. If you have cattleyas, cymbidiums or dendrobiums (as long as they're not the lowland equatorial species), than I certainly agree with Susanne's advice. Don't worry about them. I'm a bit of a negligent grower when it comes to nighttime temperatures, and my sunroom frequently drops down to the temperature range you mentioned--and sometimes even down to the high 40's at night (though that might be--with the exception of the cymbidiums--tempting fate) with none of my orchids any worse for the experience. Good luck!

Steve

[BikerDoc5968]

Just a sidenote here....without stepping on toes Consider the types of plants in your GH. Cymbidiums and Catts can handle lower temps and not blink an eye. While phals and some paphs shiver at the thought of temps approching 50. The other thing is that your heaters may be enough especially if you have some small 6" or 9" fans circulating the air.

[linda]

Hi everyone. I live in south Florida and the cold weather we got recently froze every Orchid I had. I had them in the GH with a heater and I woke up the next morning to run and check on them and gone. Is there anything I can do ? or should I just throw them out and start over again? I don't know what to do. 3500.00 dollars up in smoke. Does anyone think they'll come back? Roots are still good the leaves are frost bit. all the way from the tips to the roots.
Thanks Linda

[cb977]

Originally Posted by linda

Hi everyone. I live in south Florida and the cold weather we got recently froze every Orchid I had. I had them in the GH with a heater and I woke up the next morning to run and check on them and gone. Is there anything I can do ? or should I just throw them out and start over again? I don't know what to do. 3500.00 dollars up in smoke. Does anyone think they'll come back? Roots are still good the leaves are frost bit. all the way from the tips to the roots.
Thanks Linda

Was the heater working? How low did the temperatures get where you are?

[dounoharm]

Originally Posted by linda

Hi everyone. I live in south Florida and the cold weather we got recently froze every Orchid I had. I had them in the GH with a heater and I woke up the next morning to run and check on them and gone. Is there anything I can do ? or should I just throw them out and start over again? I don't know what to do. 3500.00 dollars up in smoke. Does anyone think they'll come back? Roots are still good the leaves are frost bit. all the way from the tips to the roots.
Thanks Linda

well linda, while they wont be 'fine'...i think most of em will pull thru if you give em time, and i mean close to a year to recouperate....but most of em should make it...the vandas and real warm growers might die tho...trim the obviously dead growth, cause you dont want to give room for a bunch of rot in the gh...trim anything dead right away...treat everything with physan and keep it on the dry side for a month or so...you will have to repot and remove rotten roots from nearly all the plants, putting them in smaller pots...but take heart, your collection will likely make it....good luck!

[vmax3000]

I was reading on this thread and remembered last year, when my greenhouse electrical shorted (me and the water and the electricity make for a great mix ). It was the coldest night (~22F). I used a gas powered camping heater, in a pinch. One night didn't accumulate enough ethylene to be of concern and I kept my collection! This year, my husband, in his "thrifty" mode, constructed me a heating unit using propane....3 nights later and I discovered bud blast/wilt. Hey Royal, it might have done the Laelia in early, but me pulling on the 3' long spike didn't help! I have been running my fan, along with the propane heater, and the bud death has vanished. I keep a bathroom heater out there, as well. It is thermostated. Resistive heat is costly on the utility budget, so the little propane heater has really saved on electricity...and with the fan, I save buds, too!! Good luck.

[Ranchnanny]

Quiltingwacko here are some photo's that I took a couple of weeks ago since then I have added some of those very large Dens. There is also a photo of my small water feature to keep the humidity up.

Sheridan