Ready for winter

[Kittyfrex]

Barring any super low nights, this is it for the winter. Originally wanted to upload a video, but couldn't, so whelp.
But anyway, everything looking as robust as ever.
Most of the ones in bloom are new, got them this two days ago. They will pretty much all go onto the green construction, i just need to get more pots...and wait a year to do another repot. Their original media was smelly and bad and they needed the god blessed sphagnum.

Still a heavy WIP, but getting there.

[RJSquirrel]

outdoors is always challenging to grow good orchids. I am not ready for winter yet.


I just back from the summer storms !!! now here comes the cold.

[Roberta]

Looks great! And those thick walls will absorb heat during the day, keep the plants cozy at night. Mine, mostly exposed. They'll be fine. We're spoiled with our lovely Mediterranean climate!

[Kittyfrex]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Looks great! And those thick walls will absorb heat during the day, keep the plants cozy at night. Mine, mostly exposed. They'll be fine. We're spoiled with our lovely Mediterranean climate!

You have no idea. It has been a cold spell (2-10C nights, 15-20 days. Feels like late spring in the sun).

D. nobile budded, as did D. kinganium and one of it's hybrids, and the two also are still making canes. There's also a cymb with emerging spike, and the brassias have spikes as thick as a pencil (except the first one that bloomed, but that was the least prosperous one). B. eberhardtii keeps making new canes/bulbs/whatever those are called, as well as L. anceps. Rastrepias making more new leaves than they currently have, especially the one i mounted on a tree. Not even gonna go into indoor, that became a jungle over the last month.

Overall, I'd give myself a B+. Went from "ok" to "are they ever gonna take a break" as the year went on. And with the forecast predicting 10+ degrees nighttime in a week or so and afterwards....

Then again, I'd never try any of this if not for you Roberta. Thanks again. 100% worth it.

[Roberta]

I have also been seeing some unusually (for the seson) cold nights - down to 4C/40 F. More typical of January than November.(Frost on roofs) I expect to see a good season for the Himalayan and Australian Dendrobiums... I don't dry them (too hard to sort them out of a very mixed collection) , am firmly convinced that the cold jolt does the job of inspiring the spring blooms.

[Kittyfrex]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I have also been seeing some unusually (for the seson) cold nights - down to 4C/40 F. More typical of January than November.(Frost on roofs) I expect to see a good season for the Himalayan and Australian Dendrobiums... I don't dry them (too hard to sort them out of a very mixed collection) , am firmly convinced that the cold jolt does the job of inspiring the spring blooms.

I gave up on dry or not to dry. Too much wind, too much moisture and rain that falls at all sorts of angles. For the last month or two, wind had changed directions at least once or twice A DAY. Yup. Even my hugeish overhang keeps nothing dry.

I wish I took a screenshot of the forecast over the last month, but let me include some looking from today just to give you an idea. Not sure if they'll end up in order, but there's dates. These are not normal nighttime temps for december.