Summertime? - Orchid Board

MattWoelfsen · #1 08-16-2014, 06:29 AM

In the past year we have had unusual weather. For example, last summer we had day after day of 90*F temperatures. Then we had a long cold, snowy winter. Spring, brought a lot of days of cold rain. Summer, this year, we've only had two days of 90*F temperatures. Normally July, August, and September are very warm, humid months--not this year!

In fact I have had to bring in from my uncovered deck all of my plants into the screened in porch where it is about 10*F warmer, overnight. Neofinetia are intermediate to cold rated orchids. But when the temps go below 50*F, I'm concerned that such cold temps during the growth cycle of summer would set them back.

Any opinions or observations are welcome!

katrina · #2 08-16-2014, 08:40 AM

Very mild (temp-wise) here too this summer. We've have some amazing storms but for the most part...very, very mild summer. Hell, my last 2 electric bills have been the lowest we've had in years. Love having the windows open rather than the a/c on.

When my plants go outside for the season...they stay at summer camp until it's time to bring them back in for the fall/winter. Low temps or not. I have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to many to be trucking them inside and out. WAAAAAAAAAY too many.

Mine have experienced temps into the 40's for brief periods and - for the most part - I've never had any issues. A few spots and dots here and there but I've never lost any. I do watch the weather and to make sure I don't water if temps are expected to dip below the mid 50's but there have been a few times when low temps have been accompanied by rain. Not ideal...but again, I'm not bringing them inside and out. For me they have to deal with it so if they can't take it then I probably shouldn't be growing them anyway.

Side note -- I'm crossing my fingers Fall doesn't permanently come too early because my grow space is not ready for plants. Renovations are going on in my house (again this summer!) and part of it includes replacing the flooring in the grow space/kitchen area that we just put in last summer. We hated it so we've ripped it out and the new flooring won't be going in for another week+. All my orchid gear is either in the garage, outside, or in one of the extra bedrooms. Basically...the entire grow space...empty and in no way, shape or form ready to house the 'chids. So, yea, I'm crossing my fingers the temps rebound back up to more seasonable temps. At least until Mid-Sept.

MattWoelfsen · #3 08-16-2014, 09:07 AM

Katrina, I think you and I are in the same weather pattern. I hate to admit that since my "normal" electric bills are 50% off these past two months, I've used what I'm saving on orchids. I have been sleeping very well with the windows open and NOT hearing my neighbor's air conditioner going off and on.

The beauty of collecting small plants is that I can fit 90% of my collection into a 10 x 12 foot porch. The other 10% are my large plants--I have three Oncidium splendidum that have three feet leaf spans--leaf tip to leaf tip. I haven't moved them, as they are too big, heavy, and I admit if they cannot stand the weather, it was not meant to be. Ironically, these large plants keep surviving and they bloom!

I'm considering donating two of these Oncidium to my society's auction/fundraiser in September. I have several large Cattleya, Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis, and other Oncidium plants (several Shari Baby--regular and Red Fantasy) I'm considering also giving away.

(Note, to any of you Neonuts who live in any states surrounding Indiana, please let me know if you desire any of these plants. I can meet you at a truck stop and transfer them to you!!! LOL.)

(Seriously, if interested, PM me.)

(Although if you read Neo Desases thread, you might not want my plants.)

nikkik · #4 08-16-2014, 09:21 AM

I am in agreement with Katrina; once my plants go outside for the summer that's where they stay. It has been very mild here too. Last week we had a ton of rain and flooding here; with so much rain and cooler temperatures I was concerned about some of my warmer growers. My plants loved it! I went outside as soon as it cleared up and my plants that are in spike progressed a lot during this time.

Even within their natural growing environments orchids will experience odd weather. There's no one to bring them in or shield them from unseasonal temperatures. In my mind if it doesn't dip below forty, they're good to stay out.

SydneyH · #5 08-16-2014, 10:36 AM

It has been an usually mild summer here also. Usually temps in July and August are upper 90s with little rain but lots of humidity. This year we've only had a week or two with temps in the low 90s and lots of rain, fog, and flooding. It even got down in the upper 40s one night. We've had record breaking lows this summer.

I don't have as many plants as some of you, but once they go outside, that's where they stay until fall. I was afraid those cooler nights would be too cool, but the plants didn't miss a beat. Occasionally one would get blown over, but it didn't seem to bother them much.

Sydney

MattWoelfsen · #6 08-23-2014, 07:28 AM

At last! Today and for next week, we are getting a "normal" summer--where the day time temperature is over 85*F and night time temperatures drops to 75*F. Temperatures have been in this pattern for the past two days but it has also rained a lot, keeping temperatures lower.

Due to the constant moisture, I'm doing preventive spraying of Physan and Thiomyl.

katrina · #7 08-23-2014, 07:37 AM

Yep...balmy, wet and very warm around here too. The 'chids must think they've been magically transported to a lowland rain forest.

How wet is it, you asked. It's so wet that I found a SLUG on a pot that's hanging off a shelf. WTF?! It must have slithered up the shelving unit to get to that orchid. I have never had a situation where a slug climbed up a shelf. Now that is wet! Damn slug ate the top off a new growth on my Den pendulum. Hope he enjoyed his LAST meal.

LovePhals · #8 08-23-2014, 09:40 AM

I also have a rack outside for my outdoor plants. The constant moisture has worried me too. Do you guys have circulation on outdoor growspaces? Katrina- I found a slug crawling up my orchid rack last summer and was shocked b/c it was pretty high up! Luckily I found it before it got to anything.

MattWoelfsen · #9 08-23-2014, 10:48 AM

I did not think about slugs. So I looked around and found no slugs. My grow space is on a pressure treated wood deck. I don't know if that deters them? I do have chipmunks and squirrels that have tried burying walnuts in my larger orchid pots. I am tolerating them so far. But if I find any damage to my precious Neofinetia or Laelia rupicolous orchids, they are history--even as cute as they are.

katrina · #10 08-23-2014, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LovePhals

Katrina- I found a slug crawling up my orchid rack last summer and was shocked b/c it was pretty high up! Luckily I found it before it got to anything.

Yea, I was pretty amazed to see the slug all the way up there...sitting on top of that growth just munching away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

I do have chipmunks and squirrels that have tried burying walnuts in my larger orchid pots. I am tolerating them so far.

The chipmunks were really destructive a few weeks back...chewing some spikes and roots and some of the thicker leaved plants. I assume it was babies learning what's what because it's all but stopped now. I still have them burying seed in my pots but I can deal with that. They especially love the sphagnum in my ctsm pots.