HELP! Will I have to leave my orchids behind?

[georgiabelle]

Happy New Year everybody! This year is a year of big change for everybody, especially me! Finishing my last year of high school, and moving to upstate New York for school!!! Going to be studying Viticulture and Enology, so not wandering TOO far from my little plant babies..

Moving from sunny and humid South Florida will be a big change for me as I've never lived anywhere with such a cold climate. I am particularly worried about my orchids. They lived inside for a while, but I have since moved them back outside so they have a fair chance at flowering!

I was hopeful at first about bringing them, as there are quite a few apartments with fantastic lighting. I am worried that the climate change would shock them into dormancy, or worse! I could leave them here with my family, but I'm just attached to them... they're my babies!

What should I do, leave them? Develop a new collection? Keep a few? I have no idea. We'd be driving up there, and I have less than 20 (for now), so transport isn't particularly an issue!

[Leafmite]

You won't need to leave them behind. I am growing orchids that have come from Hawaii and Southern California and they seem to be doing just fine here in Ohio. As you will be moving when it is still warm, the orchids will have time to adjust to the cooler climate before winter comes.

[georgiabelle]

What about the humidity? Worried about their growth on the windowsill compared to my outdoor shelves :-(

[Paul]

Will depend in part on exactly what they are and in part on what your living arrangments wind up being.

Any really large tropical types like vandas should, in all likelihood, remain with your folks. They will not like the arid envir. common to most dorms and will likely be too big.

Catts and phals should make the transition rather easily.

Any large growers will be best left behind.

[georgiabelle]

I would be in an apartment in the finger lakes area - my favorites are my dendrobiums and my phals are doing better and are all recovering from sun damage after a recent move. I also have a mounted Catt that might not do well in the move due to lack of humidity? She was my first little baby so I'm really reluctant to move her but I don't want to cause her harm either!!!!

Thank you so much for your tips and suggestions though! I really appreciate it :-))) going to look for a place for lots of windows!

[Ray]

I realize that a college student will not likely have an overflowing bank account, but you can easily grow them under properly specified lights, and if you erect shelves, there are clear "tents" available that can trap the humidity. HERE is an example.

[Optimist]

I lived near Ithica. (Took some classes at SUNY Cortland) I felt that it had sufficient humidity there. Those finger lakes create quite a bit of weather. I am growing the main 3 orchids well enough in New Mexico in the Texas Panhandle area, with only a small humidifyer. It is a beautiful area, by the way. New Yorks big secret. Winter is the big problem there.

[gngrhill]

Originally Posted by georgiabelle

What about the humidity? Worried about their growth on the windowsill compared to my outdoor shelves :-(

I am in NY and growing many different kinds of orchids on window sills. I have a few under lights, but Phals do great on window sills. I have a small humidifier for some, but some are fine without. My Dens are also ok on window sills. Hope this helps

[georgiabelle]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I lived near Ithica. (Took some classes at SUNY Cortland) I felt that it had sufficient humidity there. Those finger lakes create quite a bit of weather. I am growing the main 3 orchids well enough in New Mexico in the Texas Panhandle area, with only a small humidifyer. It is a beautiful area, by the way. New Yorks big secret. Winter is the big problem there.

I am extremely excited to be going up there! I have mostly phals and dendrobiums, with some oncidiums. I'm glad I can take them with me and won't have to stop collecting while I'm still in Florida!


Also gngrhill - it helps a bunch! I've been looking at apartments in Geneva with LOTS of windows so I have LOTS of growing space!!!

[gngrhill]

Originally Posted by georgiabelle

I am extremely excited to be going up there! I have mostly phals and dendrobiums, with some oncidiums. I'm glad I can take them with me and won't have to stop collecting while I'm still in Florida!


Also gngrhill - it helps a bunch! I've been looking at apartments in Geneva with LOTS of windows so I have LOTS of growing space!!!

Window are GREAT. I have now 8 Phals in spike or bloom on windowsills, and 2 Oncidiums in spike also on window sills. You should be ok with what you have. If you have problems with humidity, a small room size humidifier will get you up around 50 to 60 percent which is plenty for most orchids.