Cold weather in South Florida last night!

[susiep]

I was wondering if there are any other members out there that live in S. Florida and grow their orchids outside? Last night was pretty cold and I hope I don't have any damage. I was wondering how other members fared. I wrapped the slat/screen house with plastic and covered with a tarp. However when I checked at 9am it was only up to 50 degrees. Hopefully it stayed a few degrees warmer inside the orchid house (no wind chill). I had all the blooming plants in the house already, but there were a few with new shoots outside . I hope they are ok!

[cb977]

50 degrees is fine...I wouldn't worry about them.

[khill]

Hi--I brought in all my vandas and phals. My phals are all in spike and I didn't want to take a chance. I've kept them in today and will tonight too. Tomorrow is going up into the 70's, so back out they go!

[flhiker]

Hi it did get down in the mid 40's last night but only for a couple hours. The plants I have outside that are attached to trees did fine but I did bring in all the others. I would not have gotten any sleep if I didn't.

[susiep]

Well I guess I will have to wait a few days to see what happens. I just took a look and everything. They all look fine except a couple of very small nobile den keikis. I had one very small phal that I got from the German grower, Roellke-orchideen, at the Miami show that I definitely should have brought in (it's in now). Phal amboinensis (Stripes x Sinaensis 'Star') It looks like a very delicate plant and it has a bloom spike. It has a very small brown spot (1/4") where one of the leaves was touching the clay pot. I lifted the leaf so it can't touch the pot any more. Any suggestions?

[Jo Ann]

I brought all mine in last night …I hope this is the last freeze warning for this year.. ..All the rest of my tropicals look good the hibiscus was a little droopy but it came around..

[paphlovian]

It was supposed to get down to 39 degrees the other night (I'm in North Port) and I left all of mine out on my covered patio. I know that wasn't the best thing to do, but I just don't have time to move 20+ orchids... thought it would be a good experiement... but, tragic if I loose them. Well, I'm just keeping my orchids crossed!

I got tired of bringing them in several months ago, then decided to just leave them out when it fell into the 40's... they seem fine. Can it affect future growth, though?

... could it actually make the plant stronger if it's subjected to the lower temps? (I only hope so!)

[susiep]

I know what you mean. "What doesn't kill you, can only make you stronger." I still don't see obvious cold damage on my plants, so I guess I can relax. I think I am going to try some kind of a small heater next cold snap. I could run an extension cord out there, or maybe a camping/tent heater. It wouldn't need to do much. Any suggestions on that, anyone?

[Lorraine]

I wrapped my plant tree with plastic and moved it closer to a protected area. As long as it doesn't go below 50'ish I let them stay outside. All my guys are close to the house in a screened pool area. That seems to help. If we were expecting colder than that they would have all been inside. I didn't see any damage even to the the couple dens in bloom. I just hope that's the end of covering and moving everybody around. The good thing is that my husband still can't keep track of who is new or old since I keep moving or repotting. He even picked out a new Mtssa for me on the weekend and named it 'schnauser' I picked out an Epi and Vuyl. Also added 2 schombos last week. Hidden in the mix. Woohoo!
Lorraine

[Gwenchanter]

I live in Miami and I brought all 8 of my porch phals in but I left two dendrobiums outside and they seem unscathed. Earlier this winter when we had our first cold snap I forgot to bring them in and I think one of them got mesophelial colapse from the cold. The others which were close up against the house were just fine but this one happend to be about 15 feet away.