What exactly does "cool intermediate" means in cultivation outside of natural habitat

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

Slightly off topic. Roberta, I've been meaning to inquire how this recent weather anomaly has affected your outdoor plants? Snow is very unusual there. My being from the Central Valley, I'm familiar.

Thanks for asking. Actually, no problems at all. Fortunately, I escaped the really serious cold - the coldest it got was 38 or 39 deg F. (I live near the coast, at low elevation, but enough inland and high enough to not be worried about flooding.)They actually seem to have enjoyed all the rain. Blooming running a month or two late on quite a few things because of the colder-than-usual and darker-than-usual days. but lots of buds now.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Thanks for asking. Actually, no problems at all. Fortunately, I escaped the really serious cold - the coldest it got was 38 or 39 deg F. (I live near the coast, at low elevation, but enough inland and high enough to not be worried about flooding.)They actually seem to have enjoyed all the rain. Blooming running a month or two late on quite a few things because of the colder-than-usual and darker-than-usual days. but lots of buds now.

I saw news of snow in LA and have been concerned for all our SOCAL members. Thanks for the update.

[PuiPuiMolcar]

GOOD NEWS, tropical wind is coming to us Socal. The 40s is rising to 50s with abundant moisture!
I can finally kick my stanhopea and phrag out of my house.

[Roberta]

The snow in areas of LA didn't stick, but I expect that some of the higher elevation and inland valley areas got colder than it was at my house.

Fortunately, most of the orchids that people grow outside are pretty tough, down to frost. The coldest period where I live in the time I have lived here, I think was the "great freeze of 2006-2007" when there were about 3 weeks where night temperatures were near, or below, freezing. I only lost a couple of plants, that were at the edge of my hanging area and I think got cold air tumbling off the corner. Everything under shade cloth did fine. It is a fine line, but even 1 or 2 degrees F can make the difference between getting through and not, reflected residual heat from the ground or walls helps.

[estación seca]

The LA snow would be in the mountains surrounding the city, not the flats. I don't know whether snow has ever fallen downtown.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The LA snow would be in the mountains surrounding the city, not the flats. I don't know whether snow has ever fallen downtown.

It has, but doesn't stick. It might stick for a short time in the San Fernando or San Gabriel valleys. But again, not long enough to do any damage. A few photo ops. I have had hail that stayed long enough for some good photos even where I live - piles in the shade cloth, nice white coating on the lawn. (Not this year) But never stays around for more than an hour at most.

[Lil Duck]

Snow fell in my area, even as low as sea level. I got a bit but it melted by mid morning.