Preparing orchids to come back inside

[Salixx]

So, I know it's still early and I will probably have another month minimum before my guys have to come back inside permanently, but I wanted to start preparing now and thinking about it so that hopefully everything goes smoothly.

Outside, right now, I have:
Stanhopea nigroviolacea
Oceoclades maculata
Dendrobium loddigesii
Dendrobium Chan-Chao
Ett. Hsiang Yu Gold Coast
NoID. Unifolate Cattleya
NoID Phalaenopsis
NoID Oncidium

(forgive misspellings, I'm too lazy to confirm this morning)

All of them receive some pretty intense sun (~4-5 hours early and mid-morning). The Phal is more shaded than the others and the Stan's earliest morning exposure is heavily dappled from a bush. I know some of these are outside the plant's preferred range but, so far, everyone seems okay and they've been outside in these conditions since late May. After 11:30 or so, they are shaded by a building for the rest of the day... the Stan may get some dappled late evening sun, though.

What do others who grow outside in summer do to prepare their plants to come back inside?

Primarily, my concerns are: insect/mite pest prevention and acclimating them back to lower light levels. I haven't seen any signs of infestations of any kind, though I have seen some little red mites crawling around. I'm not sure they are a concern for the plants... I've always seen these mites around decaying wood which would make sense since many of the outdoor plants are in bark. As for non-harmful stuff, I'm not particularly bothered by creepy-crawlies so if I get some benign hitchhikers I don't really care (indeed, spiders are welcome!).

[estación seca]

Usually I wait.. and wait... and one day when I'm at work and won't get home until 8 pm, they issue a frost warning. I drive home like a maniac, then spend the entire night moving things inside.

The little red fast-moving things may be juvenile daddy long legs spiders.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I try to start moving my plants indoors in stages. I get the plant stand where they are moving in ready first, making sure the lights are working, everything is clean, etc.

About a month before I expect that I will need to move things in, I start weekly treatment of plants with a systemic insecticide (imidacloprid-based, though acephate is probably OK too), repeating for about a month.

When nights start cooling to the mid-upper 50s F, the Phalaenopsis start moving in, with everything else moving in according to temperature tolerance.

As far as handling individual plants, I inspect each plant for bugs, disease, signs the plant needs re-potting, if re-potting was not already done during the summer. If you are not rushed by the sudden appearance of a frosty night, this is a good time to carefully clean the leaves. Also, if time permits, flood each pot to the rim (while outdoors) to see if you can drive out insects and slugs/snails that may be lurking down in the medium.

[gngrhill]

[QUOTE=Orchid Whisperer;813395]
About a month before I expect that I will need to move things in, I start weekly treatment of plants with a systemic insecticide (imidacloprid-based, though acephate is probably OK too), repeating for about a month.

I have an imidacloprid product that I use outside in my iris gardens, Mixed with water and put on with a watering can. Is this what you mean by treatment, or do you mean spraying the plant. I haven't seen any sign of bugs on the plants, I am more concerned about bringing in something in the medium.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I would follow package directions, as there are products that are meant to be applied as a spray, watered in with a hose-end sprayer, or applied as granules. Alternatively, the St. Augustine Orchid Society has a downloadable sheet which includes mixing proportions for a few commonly available imidacloprid products.

I have a Bayer Advanced 3-in-1 product that is packaged in a hose-end sprayer, I worked out the dilution for applying it with a pump sprayer, and apply the product to the top and bottom of leaves, stems, and drench the potting medium.

[gngrhill]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

I have a Bayer Advanced 3-in-1 product that is packaged in a hose-end sprayer, I worked out the dilution for applying it with a pump sprayer, and apply the product to the top and bottom of leaves, stems, and drench the potting medium.

I have been unable to find the Bayer 3 in 1. Have tried ever since I first joined OB. What I have is also Bayer and instructions are for mixing with water in a watering can. I guess I will just use it to soak the medium and maybe spray with something else.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Gingerhill, I will try to remember to look at the label and tell exactly which product I'm using. I will also pass along the dilution ratio I use with this product. Good results so far.

If I forget, please PM me.

[Leafmite]

Be careful about using systemics if the plants are going to remain outside and bloom. It may cause harm to the bees.

[Tschimm]

I never use chemicals for 'just in case'
It's just not worth the money

[catherinecarney]

Every year I tell myself I'm going to make the move inside in an orderly fashion--inspect for bugs, spray with insecticidal soap, and repot if needed--and every year it's a scramble to beat the sudden frost warning....The thought of keeping things out for "just one more day" is SO tempting.

Catherine