Bringing them in...

[AmyG]

Good Afternoon all,
Being in zone 6a, it's been getting fall-like quick! I spent a few hours yesterday geting my grow-tent set up for my warm growing orchids- such as the Phals, and Vanda Allince ones. Also brought in my Catt babies and put them under my florescent light. Since temps are probably staying at 50 or below at nights now, what should I bring in next? Full size Catts, Catesetums, Dens, Oncidinae? I still have 30 or so to bring in to the home! Any advice would be welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

[WhiteRabbit]

If in doubt, bring them in ...

[RJSquirrel]

mine are going to sweat some. I moved 165 plants 22 miles to a new home, built an 8 x 8 deck, took the greenhouse down and put it back up in 3 days.

I'm not moving nothing for a long time .

The catts all bloomed better when they got cold and bright light over the winter months. About 40 degrees they stayed even with the heat in the greenhouse on some very cold days down to 28.
No Lol me thats cold in Texas

[Leafmite]

I brought in everything but the Venus fly traps and the Pleiones. I live in the north-east part of Ohio and the night temperatures for the next week where I live will be fifty or lower and the day temps are seventy (just one day) and lower. We have had frost here by mid-September so I felt it was best to just bring them inside when I had the time.

[Ferns Daddy]

Leafmite, I've been doing the same thing here, got all my bromeliads,cactus , crown of thorns in I have 2 cymbs still out sitting next to the house but by the middle of next wek they will be coming in, the only thing will be the plumerias to find room for
The orchids came in last week the temps were dropping fast so I got them in where its warmer.

[My Green Pets]

43F low here tonight but lows in the 50s predicted the next week so leaving everyone outside except for my Bulbo medusae because it's in spike and my baby Catts because, well, they're babies. Everyone else—phals, paph, zygo, vanda, cym, oncs, bulbo—gonna have to tough it out one night. A little stress is good for'em, right?

[nikkik]

This is an interesting thread. Last year, I didn't bring in my plants in until the beginning of October. This year, I've been in denial about fall because I am NOT ready for it to come yet. I did the mad dash Friday to bring in my warm growers and left about 30% of my collection outside. Yesterday, after checking the weather and visiting with a friend from my orchid society (who had already moved his 400+ plants indoors), I made a choice to bring in the rest of my plants and put them in "holding". Everything was sprayed last week, but I still soak every pot that comes in. I grow in a solarium that's attached to my house, so after this point it means no more chemicals until next summer.

Obviously, my solarium is heated, but I hadn't turned on the heat yet. My husband went to let the dogs out and made the the choice to turn on the heat since I have so many vandas in spike (we haven't even turned on the heat in our home yet, lol). I tend not to baby my plants or bring them in early, but this year I already have the heat on! I will also mention that normally I push the limits on how long to leave my plants out, but my deciding factor was I started to see the start of cold damage on some of my cooler growers.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I brought in everything but the Venus fly traps and the Pleiones. I live in the north-east part of Ohio and the night temperatures for the next week where I live will be fifty or lower and the day temps are seventy (just one day) and lower. We have had frost here by mid-September so I felt it was best to just bring them inside when I had the time.

Leave the VFTs out until right before a hard freeze. Frost will only kill this year's growth and leave the bulb intact. Mine winter over unprotected in a half barrel in 6b, and I know of someone who had them survive -20F in the ground with protection. Seasonal temp swings are important for their long term well being.

[Purple_phal_gal13]

It's been 70s with a low of 55 this weekend and this coming week supposed to be in the 80s again with lows in the high to mid 60s. I've got one paph, oncidium in bud, and a lovely vanda in bloom. They are in my greenhouse so should be fine? A little chilly weather shouldn't hurt them I hope. I'm really enjoying the blooms on my vanda and paph. The oncidium was a suprise bloomer as I got it this past spring in flower as a present from the boyfriend.

Around what temps though should I bring in the warmer growing ones?

[lotis146]

What do you guys use to treat before you bring them in permanently? Most of my plants are still outside except some in bud I brought in, though I didn't bring my Miltoniopsis in short spike in...maybe I should. Temps have been in 40s for several nights and will continue several more. I might wind up bringing them in temporarily after all.