How low can they grow/go?

[skhan]

Hi all.

I have a very specific question for y'all.

This year, I'm growing my fuurans outdoors. I think they really love the air flow and the natural light/dust/rain etc. Anyway, I am planning to push them to their limits (or very close to it) for the fall/winter temperature drop. Thus I will probably get them inside when the nights are 5 C or less. I know that while in the wild they can grow in lower temperatures, do you think this is a bad idea considering that some in my collection might be warm/intermediate temp. growers?

I personally think they should be fine if I can keep them on the dryer side, but you can never be too careful. Yes I've seen those overwintering guides (both here and elsewhere) but my question above is somewhat different. Any inputs on this, preferably based on personal experiences, will be much appreciated.

Regards,
Shakil

[Jorch]

I grow all my neos outside in an enclosed front porch with citrus plants. I leave them outside over winter, water them maybe once every 2-3 weeks if there's a sunny and warm(er) day, and keep a small space heater outside to keep night time temperature around 5 degrees celcius. They don't seem to mind it at all!

[skhan]

Originally Posted by Jorch

I grow all my neos outside in an enclosed front porch with citrus plants. I leave them outside over winter, water them maybe once every 2-3 weeks if there's a sunny and warm(er) day, and keep a small space heater outside to keep night time temperature around 5 degrees celcius. They don't seem to mind it at all!

Excellent! Mine are on a open shelve, so I'll leave them till 5C then, and move them inside under some Kessil LEDs after that. Thanks a lot!

[MattWoelfsen]

It will be interesting to see if your Furan will survive such cold temperatures. You might want to consider two points:
1) cultivated Furan are not as hardy as those grown outside 24/7. Many Furan are hybrids, especially the red colored flowers. They are crossed with warmer tolerant Vanda. The genetic background might make those plants less tolerant to cold temperatures?
2) moving plants in and out of the cold might cause the plant stress? Unless the inside temperature matches the temperature their moving away from. Also, if you return them outside you have to match outside temperatures with inside. This might be okay if you are moving a small number of Furan? Jorch's idea of keeping them in a sheltered space can ultimately reduce stress for the plants.

If you pursue this growing culture, please let us know what you experience. A long time ago, I accidentally left outside a dozen Furan during the winter. When I discovered them at the end of March, I was shocked! These plants did not survive.

[Pattywack]

Good to see Matt respond to this thread, I have seen the heartbreaking thread of his frozen Furan. While I understand the need for cool/cold winter temps, I grow indoors and reduce the room temperature where my Neofinetia are growing.

Good points Matt. I am too inexperienced in growing these gorgeous plants and would hate to damage or kill them.

[skhan]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

It will be interesting to see if your Furan will survive such cold temperatures. You might want to consider two points:
1) cultivated Furan are not as hardy as those grown outside 24/7. Many Furan are hybrids, especially the red colored flowers. They are crossed with warmer tolerant Vanda. The genetic background might make those plants less tolerant to cold temperatures?
2) moving plants in and out of the cold might cause the plant stress? Unless the inside temperature matches the temperature their moving away from. Also, if you return them outside you have to match outside temperatures with inside. This might be okay if you are moving a small number of Furan? Jorch's idea of keeping them in a sheltered space can ultimately reduce stress for the plants.

If you pursue this growing culture, please let us know what you experience. A long time ago, I accidentally left outside a dozen Furan during the winter. When I discovered them at the end of March, I was shocked! These plants did not survive.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions, Matt; and sorry to hear about your loss.

To clarify, I only have neofinetia/vanda falcata, no hybrids. Also, I am aware of the temperature shock and plan to move them carefully. E.g. when the forecast says that the night temp. will be 5C, I assume the day temp. should be more than 10, if not 15-ish. I can then put them during the day in the coldest place in my home and gradually move them to their final location. Finally, I think GTA winters are too cold for these little fellas, sheltered or not.

PS. Your "Death By Winter" thread is awfully scary... rest assured, I will be careful. I will report back when they are settled inside.

[MattWoelfsen]

That thread was an awful lesson learned. But did you notice how nice people were? Especially Kristen Uthus of New World Orchids. She offered replacement plants at reduced rates.

skhan, its good to experiment and broaden our knowledge of how to grow Furan!

[Jorch]

Matt's story is absolutely heart breaking!

I must add, as shown in my profile, I'm in Vancouver, BC, and we have fairly mild winters. Hardly goes below freezing! Depending on where you are, and the micro-climate of your growing environment, that would affect your decision.

As I said before, I grow them in an enclosed space, but if you grow them on an open shelf, be careful of frost! If you can somehow enclose the shelf, and keep a small space heater inside over night, that would help keep them alive over winter.

[MattWoelfsen]

I absolutely enjoyed visiting Vancouver, BC, Canada. It is like being in a European version of the great Wild West! Winters are mild these, as I recall, but get further east and on the other side of that mountain range...brrr!

I'm thinking of getting an enclosed grow tent to put in my enclosed screen in porch to house my Furan collection this winter so that they can have a bit of a winter chill?

[skhan]

Good morning people: 7:30-ish am, and it's 3C, feels like 1C. Next week it is supposed to be summer-like (30C-ish) though! Let's see how it goes...