OMG!!! FLORIDA SOOO COLD TONIGHT FOR OUR CHIDS!!

[Jkelee]

Hi there! Puh-weeeze say a prayer for my babies, that they will, and did make ok tonight!!
I have sooooo many that I can't move all of them into my GH. So I left them in the chid hotel.
I put the blinds down, wrapped in blankets & sheets.
And put a heater into each/all 3 of them.
I pray to God that they survive the upper 30's that they say it's going to be.
I hope with the way I have them wrapped up, and the heaters on, that they stay in the 40's - 50's inside!
I wrapped them up last night too, but tonight went and bought 2 more heaters.
As I knew tonight was going to be a bear!

Does anyone else in FL keep their babies outside like I have mine, In our FL weather?
If so, and you keep them outside, what do you do when this cold comes??

[mlw]

Hi Jkelee,
I've got mine outside too--they just seem happier there, but it is getting into the 40s here tonight in Sarasota, and I've got a spike coming on a dendrobium that I rescued. I'm wondering whether it will be better off not disturbed, or better off coming in.

I think it depends on how cold. I have 2 oncidiums (oncidia?) that are from the same plant that survived by accident in an overturned pot in a bed of ferns for 2 years. Selby Gardens here has a huge oncidium naturalized on a tree that seems to weather real cold ok, and the Ringling Museum has a dendrobium that was blooming about a month ago naturalized on a tree--it seems to be growing just fine. It's the vanda that I'm most concerned about.... You must have quite a collection!
-=Miriam

[Lorraine]

I hope it doesn't get too cold for your chids. Sounds like the heaters will help. I'd bring in the vandas though.

I'm a lot further south but when it dips down that far they all come in. I have a couple I mounted in the trees and when the cold comes I think I'll wrap and bungee some newspaper around the area to keep the cold off. These guys are still on the smaller side. I leave mine all out unless we go below 45. One time I gathered them all to one area near the wall and covered them overnight. That worked since it was a spot with no wind moving around. Wind seems to be worse than just the temp. Stay warm tonight Jkelee.

[Royal]

I'll say a little prayer for them. I bet they'll do fine. Most of my collection has weathered temps in the 30's this season and I didn't have your chid hotel to wrap and heat.

mlw, If the Dend is in a pot, go ahead and bring it in. Don't rip it off of a tree if that's how it's growing, but moving a potted plant wont disurb it. Even if it did, cold temps would be harder on the plant than the move.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Wind seems to be worse than just the temp.

That's the truth!

[Jkelee]

Well I went out there this morning and upwrapped them and turned off the heaters. All seemed fine, except a Huge Dendro that was too close to the heater. I thought he was far enough away, but I browned up a few leaves
But Over All, it worked!!
I'm heading to Lowes today to find a Large or two, Tarps that I will "Wrap" the Blankets in. Because the wind was tearing every up last night. I had to throw rocks from my Koi Pond up on top of the blankets to keep them down.
So I thought wrapping it up tight with a tarp after the blankets, will keep everything in place.

Thanks for the Prayers and well wishes for my babies

[Swamper]

Not as cold in Miami but they all stay outside.My vandas do fine the ones that are spiking I may lose but we'll see.

Sorry to hear about your heater causing damage Jacky

[Jkelee]

Thanks Swamper. I'm just stupid for leaving that huge Dendro there. I thought 15" away was fine.

[Swamper]

I know hindsight is 20/20 but try to remember if you would be ok in a situation that they are in. Sorry if that comes across as a stupid comment.

[priz_m]

Jkelee I am very happy to hear your orchids made it through, I on the other hand are amazed by the summery conditions in mid November here in CA... I blame global warming...