FUNKY Weather!!! - Orchid Board

**irphrog** · #1 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 11:59 AM

How crazy has the weather been this year!!! It's been in the upper 80's this past week here...my chids are very confused

They don't know if they should go back into a growing season or to go into their dormant time (those that do)....today, the high for the day peaked @ 7:00 this morning and the temps are dropping by the hour, it's supposed to get down to the low 30's tonight and then back up into the 70's next week...UGH!!!

For the first time EVER, I now have 7 plants either in spike or going into spike

I will, of course, post pictures

I do have to say that not having a greenhouse

has been a ton of work with moving everyone into the main house when it has gotten chilly and then moving them back outside when it warms up again...GEEZE...33 plants later....so my question here (and yes, there is a question...) what type of greenhouse, hot house or lath house has worked for any of you and what do you think would work best in my area?

How bad is this: while Christmas shopping yesterday, I bought a new chid (Bllra. Mafitch Howard's Dream) in spike but the plant doesn't look that great....I guess I need to scratch something off of my christmas list, huh? Seems only fair I guess

philoserenus · #2 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 01:26 PM

ya the weather is crazy... hopefully there will be no +20*C weather in the dead of January (like last winter)... and right now lets just say the whole Toronto is pretty much at a standstill... the snow is about 30cm here.

i was about to go orchid shopping at the beginning of this week, but obviously thatz gonna hafta wait... booo...

Ross · #3 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 01:36 PM

And "they" say this is global warming!

cb977 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 01:44 PM

After having to shift the 'chids around the first winter, we had a sunroom built on to the side of the lanai. I love it. I had 2 skylights put in (should've had three

) and 2 ceiling fans. I use a portable electric heater with a thermostat for nights when the temps drop below 50.

Whatever you choose, make sure it will be able to withstand the winds.

justatypn · #5 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 07:50 PM

Have to agree with the wacky weather, either indoor growing or outdoor/greenhouse growing its still a bit confusing especially noting 80 deg's yesterday, now 60 deg's and upper 30's tomorrow....now that's just wrong

Sandy4453 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 10:36 PM

...and it's crazy down here too in South Florida. It's been hot with still, lots of humidity but tonight......it's changing. It's going into the mid 50's and I never thought I'd say this but that's cold!!!!! When I lived in NY, the shorts would come out of the closets when it reached 60! When I lived in Calif., the days were shorts weather with the evenings temps dropping down in 30's.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to more Phal spikes. Yippee!

Marty · #7 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 08:02 AM

Here's something to all you tropical and subtropical dwellers ! I can feel it in my shoulder today, next time few stretches and a short warm up

We only got 25cm, I heard Quebec got 60cm (2feet) !

kiki-do · #8 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 08:41 AM

We are still digging out of a major nor'easter yesterday. We got a foot of snow before everything turned to sleet and freezing rain.

We had our woodstove going and have almost all my chids out in the newly heated glassed in backporch. The wind was howling, a virtual whiteout, temps. around the 20's and I poured my self a glass of wine and went out to the porch and admired my chids. We put our Christmas tree and winter village scene out there also because Dave knew that is about the only room I go into these days.

. Well, some are in the kitchen too. (I think Dave was worried he would starve to death, so we put some in the kitchen).

Winter? What winter? My orchids sure do give me pleasure! Every time I step out to the backporch and look at all my chids, I think I am on vacation in the tropics somewhere.

My only concern is that I haven't had time or extra money to go buy more chids. I've had to Christmas shop....and no one is into orchids.....bah, humbug.

I know, I know...tough life!

kiki-do

cb977 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty

Here's something to all you tropical and subtropical dwellers ! I can feel it in my shoulder today, next time few stretches and a short warm up

We only got 25cm, I heard Quebec got 60cm (2feet) !

Marty, your little guy has gotten so big! Time flies, huh?

cb977 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 09:06 AM

kiki...too funny!

I love the idea of strategically placing orchids in the kitchen so the family doesn't starve!!!