When to start bringing orchids inside
 

I've posted this as a group since I only have 1 of each but possibly I should post this question in each orchids section?

I have the group below of orchids outside for the first summer and am wondering when should I bring them in since it will be getting cooler very soon here? My nights are low 50's to low 60's for most of the summer including august. I've read that most of them (except for Little Black Sambo which is hardier?) generally need to come in before it goes below 55 degrees. Well, they've all been in the low 50's many times, even this month of august, and look pretty happy. My question is how low should they actually go? I assume the phals and possibly others will go in and out a bit.

Yes, most of these are from box stores, phals are clearance and doing well, the variety is so I can learn what I can grow and what likes my conditions. If all goes well by next spring I'll take the plunge and order online what works. So far I'm very impressed with the toughness of orchids, now is the challenge to get them to bloom for me :dance:
Thanks so much again for all your help!

Brassolaeliocattleya Ann Cleo Stars and Stripes
Brassocattleya Little Marmaid
Onc. Ampliatum
Oncidium Sharry Baby
Wils. Pacific Panache “Keenan”
Encyclia
paph hsinying maru x incantation
Paph Magic Cherry x Paph Hsingying Web
NOID phalaenopsis type dendrobium
several phalaenopsis NOIDS
Cymbidium Little Black Sambo

The Cymbidium can stay out for some time, in fact, this will help spike the chid... night time temps to about 45F ~ 47F but let it get on the dry side in late September. The Cattleya Alliance and Oncidium Alliance can tolerate cool temps but watch out for too much moisture when cool about 50F. The Paph and Phals... I get nervous at 58F ~ 60F. I'm sure someone will have other suggestions as to how they manage their "summer outdoor" chids.

I think the warm days in the 80's and the fact that they are up next to the house on the deck might be helping keep them a tiny bit warmer. I've been told that the one paph is getting a flower :dance: So far so good. Just looked and saw the temps are on average going to drop into the 70's during the day, low to high 50's at night starting this weekend. I assume things now need to change :) Moisture here could definately be a problem, thanks for the info, I'll keep an eye on that too!

If your paph has a flower spike, be extremely careful not to get it wet or you run the risk of it rotting and so much for the flower!

ok, the paph with the spike is officially back inside :)

Night temps are 50F here during summer too, infact from May until now we regulary have nights between 50F and 55F. Daytime temps range from 66F to 99F. I still have several plants outdoors. Oncidium Sweet Sugar and Colmanara Wildcat for instance (about to bloom) They can take even a bit lower than 50F for 1 night, however I prefer to get them indoors when temps go lower than 50F during the nights or when I get surprised by cool night temps and low day temps when I just watered them.

I make sure they are not in a very windy spot, as wind and moisture seems to cool the pots/plants more due to evaporation? Not sure about that, but this is what I think will happen.

BTW I also have an Oncidium Twinkle and Propetalum outdoors with these temps, they enjoy playing outdoors, also during the nights, despite these are young plants that never flowered before.

Nicole

I'm not sure either but I think so too which is why I keep them up against the house. Excellent to hear, thanks so much for your temperature suggestions :)

I've been thinking... this spring I had the same plants outdoors with a 45F night. Could not detect any bad effects but I'm not sure if I would do this if several nights in a row would get that cold.

I think when day temps are good and you adjust watering, they can take quit a bit!

Nicole

Conditions will vary with each micro-climate. Certain building materials will absorb heat during the day, e.g. bricks, or a concrete foundation. They can warm the surrounding area for much of the night and your plants may not feel the cooler temps. Hanging from a tree, the plants will reach air temp more quickly. Probably the only way to really know is to get a high-low thermometer, or digital reporting thermometer. Also be aware that microclimates can get hotter than the air temp. But cool nights and damp plants can lead to fungus.

i havent much experience on this since its my first year growing them outside but i dont think the plants seem to mind low temps..... it may sound dumb yes but i havent seen any damage (yet) on anything. last week it dipped down to 28f for several hours and still the plants were just fine. i think you can afford to leave them outside as long as there is no rain, wind, snow, and keeping them dry watering only when necessary since cold and wet rots the plants and cold and windy will suck the water out. just my observations