The little ones are in for the winter
 

I’ve just bought most of my small orchid plants inside, where they will be for the 3 months of winter. I’d be curious to know if people think this is an adequate growing environment. I took this photo about 11am, so it’s average light conditions. The main window faces west but a tree screens the late afternoon sun. The window on the right faces north but is under a long, dark patio roof that even in winter blocks amost direct light. I think most of the light that comes through that window is actually reflected off the water. There is no artificial lighting specific to the orchids.

My other concern is temperature. Like most people in NSW, we don’t heat our house 24x7. We mostly just rely on a bar heater morning and evenings, and tend to rug up a lot. Therefore the temperature tends to bounce around between about 14 and 21 degrees Celsius indoors, depending upon what we are doing. It could do this 6 or so times a day, and if we do turn the air conditioners on the increase in temperature is very fast indeed. Because the house is poorly insulated, the decreases are very fast too. Obviously that’s very different to what orchids experience in nature where I assume temperature changes are steady and predictable, so I wonder if it’s something to be avoided?

Mostly, they’re cattleya and oncidium hybrids.

Cheers, and thanks for taking the time to look
Arron

I can't really help you, but your windows look beautiful with so many orchids.

I think the Catts and Oncidiums will be fine. I would let the Catts get completely dry between waterings, and not water them heavily. The Oncidiums will love those temperatures, and perhaps grow all winter.

14C / 58 F is a little risky for Phals unless it gets good and warm the next day. Is there anywhere warmer? Or might you consider a small heat mat under the Phals? Check the temperature of an empty pot on top of a mat before you risk cooking plants.

Thanks EC.

I mightn’t have made it clear that my main concern is with the fluctuations in temperature, rather then just the temperature per se. I can move them to a more stable area, it just wont be a very convenient location.

I only have two phals which are both supermarket plant rescues, so not too worried if they perish. I suppose that might seem like sacrilege in this company but I don’t want to incur cost or hassle keeping them alive.

Cheers
Arron

The fluctuations you mentioned should be fine.

You need to understand a lot of us try to rescue and grow on the Thai basil garnishing our curry.