Why are you not watering them? That makes no sense.

There's no reason to think they would die over the winter unless you stop watering them completely. Are you trying to kill them?

With very little light and low temperatures both day and night, Phalaenopsis and other tropical orchids stop metabolizing. If you continue to water weekly THAT is what will kill them. I do not intend to stop watering completely, but I haven't seen any indication that I need to water them yet. As long as the leaves remain firm they are maintaining the internal pressure necessary to keep the leaves alive. But, as said. It was my intention to buy lights and a space heater so they could be kept growing.

I agree with Suza! I like them, that is why I keep fiddling with them indoors. No heating in this house apart from where they are on top a tropical fish tank which lifts temps slightly in this room.

So they survive winter at the lower end of the temperature scale with reduced watering and lower temps.

The other if is the potting material. Pure Spag will allow you to have a longer watering interval.

I think the lower temp limit in the literature is about 12C.

They are getting Nil sun at the moment because sun is almost directly overhead, more filtered sun in winter when the sun has moved to the North.

My phals at my latitude (43*N) never get supplemental light. Near an east facing window (no direct sun), similar temps as yours, watered about every 10 days, growing in pine bark and currently spiking. Evidently a winter haven.

tj

Whatever works for you!

I have too many Phals to count as they keep getting donated to me by folks who can't keep them alive. Up here in Boston, they live outside during the summer and on a windowsill in the winter. Winter is when they spike and mine would not do so in the dark without water.

I'm fascinated by your method, Howard. Curious to hear if/when they spike. Please keep us updated!