Moving Catts Outisde
 

I currently grow all my orchids under T8's. I have about 4 catts and one epi catt. My husband just surprised me by buying me another catt. I have them mere inches away from the lights. I'm trying to talk my husband into getting me some nicer T5 lights. If that doesnt happen I'm beginning to wonder if I will ever see a catt bloom under my T8's. They are growing wonderfully though in s/h. My question is if I move them outside can I keep them out there all year. I really dont want outside plants brought in around my indoor plants in the winter because of bugs and yuck they may have picked up outside. We saw some temps this winter in the 20's. I plan to have them on my covered patio. Do you think they will be ok in the winter? Or better yet in the super hot summer if they are in the shade? TIA

My experience has been that most cattleyas can handle temperatures down into the mid 40's if you can protect them from the wind. Cold winds can damage them very quickly. I wouldn't want to leave them outside in temperatures lower than that. I think you would need to bring them indoors if it's going to be lower than 45 F for an extended period of time.

I don't grow in SH myself, but I thought the roots in SH would not do as well in cool temps.

I usually summer my Cattleyas outside. I do grow most of them in S/H. In San Antonio you cold keep them outside most of the year. If they are intermediate growers when it does start dipping down near 40 at night they should be brought inside. If they are warmer growing species then I would say you would not want them any cooler than the mid 50s.

For years I took my plants outside every summer. To protect against unwanted 'guests', I would then spray with Malathion just before taking them inside in the fall.

---------- Post added at 05:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:21 PM ----------

I should mention, that despite our best efforts, there are always some ants in our greenhouse.

I have one Catt, and I tested last year if it can stand our mild winter..it almost died.., but it is coming back now, ever so slowly. I think it is okay during warmer temps to be outside, but when winter temps go down to the 20's it is too much for it. We had that unusual 20's in late autumn last year, quirky weather.

Moving Catts Outside
 

I definitely do not recommend your trying to keep catts outside in the winter in your climate. Have you already forgotten last winter's temps? I am just now moving all my orchids out of the GH onto my plant table and other places. Our spring was so chilly that it has barely warmed up enough to do so. In years past I have moved them out a couple of weeks earlier.
Beverly A.

Like Beverly, I advise against keeping your Catts outside for the whole year. I live in Austin and usually throw my plants outside in mid March and then bring them inside around mid October. This all depends on the night temps. This year I waited until mid April to put everything outside because of the cold.

---------- Post added at 05:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

Oh, and the fact that your Catts are in s/h means they are more sensitive to cold temps unless you put a heat pad underneath them.

Thanks for the advice you guys. The catts will stay inside and I will work on getting some t5's.

They actually benefit from some time outside! You'll see some really good growth when the 'chids head out to play!