Forgot the picture!

Have you any idea of the maximum and minimum temperatures in the micro-climate in your yard in winter?

Generally a low not below about 60F is recommended.

Plant looks great!

I don't know for sure, but that particular area doesn't seem to get frost (even on frost nights/days). If I had to guess, I'd say around 30-40 during a bad winter.

That same Phal lived on my screened porch for a few years. Of course, it looked awful... but it did survive.

Would pulling it off the tree kill it for certain? Should I devise a clear cover/greenhouse type thing?

Shear,
For the 'chids I have on a tree I use a sheet (or two). I wrap it around the trunks and tuck it in between the branches above the plants and use clothes pins to keep it in place. Then I put a shop light under the resulting 'tent'. So far they have survived the frosts. They are not Phals though so, results may vary.

Meg

I really just don't know what I was thinking... or I was thinking it wouldn't work... or that tomorrow (winter) would never come.
I need to gather some sheets.

hi
i grow most of my orchids this waylol.. i don't even protect them until temps drop into the 40's Have separated the various species by light needs in groups When a cold spell comes I erect a frostcloth tent. For the vandas I use a
infrared heater set at 50. For the phals I use frostcloth and christmas lights.. I generally find they grow better this was than with my care lol. .Much depends on how cold and how long . greatest loss occured at 27 for 3 hours and no losses at temps above 35.. i would say that they probably flower less. Last winter for example the low was 42 for 2 hours flowered as well as my pot grown ones .In a lot of cases I think the dip in temps invigorates them??
Might mention that removing from the trees is almost impossible lol good luck gary

Thanks, Gary! I figured they'd never forgive me for pulling them off the tree. They're looking SO good now, if they make it through a "roughish" winter, I'm going to get more and do the same!

Gary is an expert on outdoor growing. I'm wondering, how close to the water are you, 'Shear'? The closer to the water, the more protective it seems to be. I lived near on the Gulf for 6 months and we had some cold nights but nothing got affected. Yet 5 miles inland saw a lot of damage.

Jane

I'm one mile to the St. John's River and 11 miles to the ocean... as the crow flies.

Hi
here is a pic of the vanda setup. have 8 species plus some epidendrums on conjoined queen palms. This is on the 10th year gary

Wow! They sure look happy!!!

How abt.mounting them, putting them on a plank, or piece of wood, or piece of cork, w/.a hook to hang them with...then they can be taken down when cold weather comes....sally

That would have been a great idea! Maybe I can do that with subsequent orchids. But Gary says they'd suffer greatly if I pried them off the tree...and looking at them, I tend to agree.

I have phals mounted on a palm tree and on my dombeya tree around my 2 little ponds. It seems that they are always in bud or blooming when the really bad weather hits. As suggested above sheets, frost cloth or whatever I can find seems to do the job. I haven't lost one yet but I am sure the blooming is affected. That said have you seen how magnificant a phal looks in full bloom hanging off a palm tree? Its worth it.

No, I haven't seen that yet!

But I'll see how they look tucked into a Loquat tree. LOL!

Hi
Catt growing on carombola tree, Epicactus in group
gary

Very nice! I'm definitely feeling better about my decision!

Love that Gary! Do you get blooms on the Epi's and Vandas? Looks shady in the photo.

Jane

Hi
The Catt is on a carombola along with hard cane dendrobiums Have 3 kinds of Epidendrum this is the night bloomin oxypetalum, I believe. The others are a purple and a red day flowering Have grown well but no flowers . Is very shady as the foliage on the carombola is very dense.lol
The vandas are situated on a palms which have grown about 4 feet so MUCH sunnier. The tallest are a purple strap/terete hybrid a red strap and white epidendrum the teretes are a two tone pink "miss Joaquin" i believe Growth has been fantastic the tallest being over 8 feet
Flowering has been disappointing BUt more optomistic with MUCH more sun, and are now mature enough to have a solid trunk though the terets have rooted into fronds that are doomed lol At the base are 3 types of epidendrum noids lol as well as a small form nepenthes (carnivorous plant)
Phals Maxilaria and brassidiums are awaiting mounting onto a Cassia roxburghii. I'm awaiting a false bromeliad " cochliostemma jacobianna as well as some epi anthuriums for that group along with a tri colored vanilla.
and some Jade ferns Orchids are living in baskets until I get it all together lol. Also have some understory palms that will go into that group
Also developing a very deep shade epi area area where I want to try "twig " orchids and several other epi ferns along with several types of jewel orchids. Particularly want to have a dicranum moss bed between the plantings
My canopy has been torn down 3 times so most of my stuff is still in the shadehouse. I want my own private rainforest . Finally i think the mainn canopy will allow that barring more hurricanes . getting old and want to try an integrated landscape rather than a mish mash collection!!
gary