Couple questions about blooming?

[butterfly_muse]

Hi guys! I have a couple of questions about getting an orchid to bloom. I have read that exposing them to temperatures (I believe at night? Or is this all day?) of around 60 degrees or so for a couple of weeks will entice them to spike. Is this true no matter what or only if you do it within the orchid's natural cycle of growing/flowering?

Second, can you put them outside for that time period? I can't stand our house to be any less than about 67 (I am a wimp, I get very cold very easily), and hopefully in the next month or so the temperature will stop being schizophrenic and will stabilize in the 60s during the day. I would likely bring it in at night because the temps would drop to the 40s or so. Also my patio is south facing, and if it was allowed outside what would be the best way to protect it from too much sun?

If I can't put it outside, how can I simulate that kind of temperature without plummeting my thermostat into the 60s?

I have two phals, one is in recovery but the other one is extremely strong and happy, and that is the one I would like to see spike. I inherited it from a co-worker and it was dyed blue when she had it, so I have no idea a) what its flowers even look like, though I am guessing they are white and b) when its natural blooming cycle is. I have read that they tend to bloom in fall or spring...Is there any way for me to find out when its natural bloom is?

Thanks!