Spiking phals, dropping temperature

[beachgirl]

Hello
I have a quick question. I live in South Florida and last night the temperature dropped to around 51 degrees. It may get even colder tonight. For the first time in years my phal collection is full of spikes but nothing blooming yet except one. Do I need to bring them in tonight or should they be ok?
Thanks!!!

[estación seca]

I would bring them in.

[DeaC]

Unless you're looking to reduce collection, inside they go.

[beachgirl]

Thanks, that makes sense. Although when the temp dropped in December, I think it helped produce spikes for the first time in years. But now I'd probably just get bud blast lol! I'd cry if I lost out on flowers after all this time.

[Orchidtinkerer]

so did temps not drop in previous years? What's different about this year to other years? Were they indoors before?

[beachgirl]

There is usually a drop around Christmas. I have always brought them indoors before. This time I didn't because I had heard they needed a 'signal' of lower temps to bloom and it did work for me. But this recent drop is kind of unusual in that it is supposed to get into the 40s tonight.

[estación seca]

When I was at the Tamiami show a few years ago, I heard two Florida growers talk about mounting Phals on trees outside. They said the big white ones often survive, then eventually thrive. They started with cheap generic ones bought out of bloom. Mount them sideways so rain drains out of the crown, and be sure they're shaded. Some white ancestor species experience lower temperatures than some other species.

[beachgirl]

The problem I was having was finding the right tree with enough light to mount them on, and if it had enough light through the winter they completely baked in the summer and looked awful. My yard does not have the ideal canopy but when the situation is right it is gorgeous to see phals on trees here.

[estación seca]

They are fine in full shade. Try it.

[beachgirl]

I did. Unfortunately they did nothing. No growth, leaves were dark, no spikes. My backyard is literally a dense jungle. I have them in pots now in a 'dappled' spot close to the house and nearly all have new growth and spikes. I am so excited!! I hope they survived Monday's cold snap. Right now my entire kitchen is full of plants. It's 50 degrees and last night dipped down to 46. We are spoiled, and this feels terribly cold!