Bringing the plants back indoors
 

Looks like the temps will begin dipping into the high 50sF (~14C) by this weekend, when it is also FINALLY going to be sunny again. Unfortunately it's been in the 60s, rainy and gray for a while now. Should I start bringing in my collection by the end of the week? I have four bulbos, two brassavolas, an angraecum and a vanda, a few catasetums (one in spike), several cattleyas, encyclias, one maxillaria, a few dendrobiums, a dockrilia.... I haven't had the chance to treat any for bugs and was going to begin this week and continue for three weeks. It's going to be high 75F and low 57F this weekend. Can I keep them out or should I bring them in? I'm torn. I usually don't let them get below 60F, but I feel like the weather is unusually cool and gray and that it may get warm again soon.

What is everyone else doing? Anyone in the Northeast in the US experiencing this solemn September?

If you keep them dryish these will be fine in the lower temperatures for now:
Brassavola Cattleya Encyclia Maxillaria Dendrobium Dockrillia

It depends on which Angraecum. Most would be OK with that, but some of the tropical little ones won't like it too much.

The Bulbos, Vanda and Catasetums would probably like it warmer than 57 F / 14C though they will tolerate it for a brief spell.

As ES pointed out, the key is dry, or wet. Most of those would be fine down into the 50s *IF* they will be dry. If wet...not so good. If soaking wet...really not good.

Mine start the move tomorrow...night time temps will be down into the upper 40s/low 50s starting Weds night. It's been raining all day, will rain most of tomorrow and Weds...soaking wet and cold = not a good combo.

My rule of thumb I bring them indoors three weeks before frost for most of my orchids. I let them feel the cool nights and warm humid mornings and the sunlight to induce their blooms. Especially my Plals….

The issue is that you can never tell when it will frost in Philadelphia, so instead I have a "never below 60F" rule of thumb for the orchids and "never below 50F" for the rest of my indoor plants that are out there (mostly succulents). The majority are all wet today and it is low 62 tonight but I think that's fine. By Saturday they should be dry because the rain stops Wednesday. In the past I would just bring in the mounted ones during chilly nights and hang them in my kitchen til the next morning, but now I have about 25 potted orchids out there and there will be too much to bring in and out. The angraecum is a sesquipedale. I'm going to get started prepping my indoor space this week and keep an eye on the weather. I feel like the cooler weather has started so soon but I guess it's already the end of September...

For your own peace of mind, by all means bring them all indoors. The weather in your area can be really erratic at times.

Angraecum sesquipedale is grown outdoors by people in southern California, so it will live through temperatures in the 40s / 5-7C. It really wants to be warmer, though.

We've had a few nights of 47f in the forecast but, it's been
dry as a bone. I've started the spraying routine and bought a new cart and lights. Unlike Malteseproverb, l can't just bring my mounts in without a through inspection (Brown marmated stinkbugs are sneaky hitch hikers). I've been spraying Azamax and 3 in one. It's the snails I really worry about!

What type of snails? Bush snails--> caffeine (coffee grounds/coffee (They usually ignore baits)

Coffee breaks slugs : Nature News


Other snails--> sluggo or sluggo plus

I have the bush snails, pill bugs, mealy bugs, and some scale so....I've been using the sluggo plus, coffee grounds, and Neem oil on each plant as it is brought indoors. I bought cold pressed Neem Oil this year as recommended by Logees. :)

I cannot use systemic as most of my plants produce edibles...leaves, flowers and fruit...and the dog thinks the same about the orchids.... :)

What baffles me is how they get into the plants suspended in the air.