Oncidiums - Lowest temp

[rbarata]

In general, what's the lowest temp they can tolerate outside without causing any set back ( and bud loss)?

Thanks

[Dollythehun]

I have one outside at the moment. The nights have been 45+f and it seems ok. Night temps are on the uptick now. But I admit to being a little nervous.

[Fernando]

It largely depends on the species. The group formed by crispum appreciate lower tº near to 0ºC, as long as day tºC are warm; the same holds true for central mexican species (tigrinum etc.) which need cool night tºC for correct growing; equally if days are warm, sunny and dry. Varicosum and allied don't like long cold spells.
As most hybrids are varicosum-related, I wouldn't go below 8ºC for this group, maintaining the plants dry.

Even after splitting Oncidium it is still a big group with very different needs.
For which one do you need advice?

[epiphyte78]

Most of my common yellow Oncidiums have no problem with a mild freeze... 32F. It usually warms up during the day. All my Oncidiums are mounted so they have excellent drainage when it rains during the winter.

My friend in Rome, Italy has had good success growing Oncidium bifolium outdoors. Here's a picture of his Vanda covered in snow. And here's a picture of Oncidium bifolium growing on a cactus.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Fernando

For which one do you need advice?

I really don't know. These are backbulbs that are now in spike for the first time,
Maybe a photo of the buds will help?

[MattWoelfsen]

The regular Oncidium plants, like Sharry Baby, I have kept them outside where overnight temperatures got below 50F or upper 40F. But the day time temperatures got back up the next day to over 60F.

I am in Northern Indiana (Fort Wayne, Indiana). The temperatures have bounced back to overnight temperatures no lower than 60F and it has been over 80F during the day. These Oncidium seem to flourish in this transitional season.

I have a Gomesa radicans (it was called Ornithophora). It comes from coastal Brasil from Sao Paulo all the way north to the Amazon River basin. It likes warm temperatures, high humidity. I brought it in when the overnight temps went below 50F. I have kept it indoors, since. I suppose I can put it back outside to take advantage of the rain and high humidity.

[Bolero]

Yeah I agree, the yellow Oncid's will get very cold. But during those months I water a lot less.......then pick up watering a lot more in Spring. They can take a decent cold. I have one though that looks like rat tails (name escapes me) but that I keep minimum 55F.