How long with no lights?

[got ants]

With this current cold spell, I brough all my orchids into my garage. Normally it's only for a day or two, but the this current cold spell has them in for 6 days, and maybe a few more.

How long can orchids go without light if other conditions are maintained..(temps, water)?

I have oncidiums. encyclias, some catts, dendrobiums, etc.. a mix match of species, mostly warm to hot growing. Currently I have a standard 60 watt light bulb over head, but not anything like metal halide grow light.

Can I keep them in for another 5 days?

[trdyl]

If that is the only option you have then it will have to do. I would try to increase the bulb wattage to as large as you can and use a clear bulb. Of course it also depends on how near the plants are to the light as to how large a bulb you can use. Running the light 12 hours on and 12 hours off would also help. The important thing is to keep them alive.

[Royal]

Keeping them on the dry side is also a good idea.

[johnblagg]

go to home depot or some other store and get a big cfl they carry a 65 watter at hd and it equv to 300 watt incadesent it costs 13 $ here for that one.Give them a better chance and they can survive better than total darkness.

[got ants]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Keeping them on the dry side is also a good idea.

That kind of confuses me as I always thought it best to water them before a cold snap.

Now being in my garage, I also have an oil filled space heater in there. the heater is on the lowest setting and about 10' away from the chids. When the temps outside went into the low 30's, the garage was in the 60's.

I have not actually watered them but do a daily misting, sometimes more.

Anyhoos, I hope I don't lose the flowers and spikes I now have on them, but last year I lost a few chids due to cold temps and want to avoid that again.

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[stefpix]

why dont you get a CFL maybe 100/150W that is equivalent to a traditional bulb 4 times the wattage?

[johnblagg]

during cold spells and winter many plants do much better a little dryer ...somehow it helps to prevent rot and freeze damagge..

Cacti are one good example kept dry many can survive extreame cold while if watered would turn to mush in the same conditions.

less water I am guessing and the natural antifreezes in the plant are more concentrated and stop cells from rupturing

[Ray]

As to the "how long" question, everyone is right that adding supplemental light is a good idea, but if you consider that some international shipments can be in-transit for two- or even three weeks, I don't know that I'd be too concerned about a week.

[johnblagg]

I have to agree with Ray on this and would not be too worried unless some are spiking and need more light to bloom well.I would supplement light then If they were mine for sure Just because they were spiking.

[stefpix]

At home depot you can buy a T12 shop light foxture for $9 and 2 40W tubes for 6 $.comes with a chain and you can easily attach it to a wire shelf.
enough to make my phals and spathoglottis plicata spike and bloom.
should be enough to keep your plants photosynthetize