I've got a quick question...

I just received my plants from Post Hill, potted them in appropriate mix, and have them stored under the porch. It is shady and dry, and the current outdoor temps are nice and cool here in NY. But... I'd like to move the plants into the garage as soon as possible, because we have a huge deer/squirrel problem here, and the pots are somewhat unsightly under the porch, with mulch heaped around them.

What I'd like to know is at what temperature can I safely place my plants in the garage. The temps in the garage are currently running about 55 during the day, maybe a little cooler since the thermometers are directly against the house-facing wall.

Btw... The plants look great, especially the candidum, which had three growth buds!

I don't have the answer for you because I don't grow Cyps but sounds like you got yourself some nice plants, how exciting! Maybe Ron or one of our Cyp experts can weigh in.

I don't have the answer for you because I don't grow Cyps but sounds like you got yourself some nice plants, how exciting! Maybe Ron or one of our Cyp experts can weigh in.

:iagree: I think 55 might be a bit warm still though.

Actually, the forecast highs here aren't any better than the garage. It is supposed to be between 54-61 for the next few days, and the forecasts are within a degree or so of Morris, CT, where the plants came out of the ground, so...

I should also mention that 55 is just the current temp, which is pretty much in line with what plants in the ground would be experiencing right now.

Hey Joshua, no worries since they won't sprout unless they've been properly vernalized, so warmth in the fall is no big deal. Sometimes C. macranthos will pop early, but even that one is unlikely to do so right out of the box unless it has been severely shocked (say, ripped from the wilds of Manchuria, held in a storehouse for a several weeks, and then sent to America or Europe). Adult Cyps in general need at least three months below 40 F in order to get the gumption to sprout.

The bigger issue is in the spring as the sun gets warmer. When day temps consistently get above 50-55 F the plants can begin to grow. To avoid this you need to monitor your garage carefully come March. If it gets too warm, then remove the plants back to the outside in a shady place (absolutely no sun hitting the pots). Once temperatures are high enough the plants will begin growing. Also be sure not to let them dry out ever. Moist conditions at all times in required.

Good luck with your plants!

Tom

Thanks Tom!

I figured it wasn't an issue in the fall, because otherwise they'd have already popped during the several days they were stuck in the post office, as my letter carrier doesn't deliver packages due to some private road issues not yet resolved. I'll move the plants into the garage tomorrow or soon thereafter, and I'll keep them there for a few weeks and re-assess the situation then. If I recall, the garage got as cold as 19F during the day last winter during one particularly cold week, so it should be cold enough Nov-Mar.

Regarding keeping them moist... In the garage they might get dry, should I add some drops of water if they do, or just keep them in bags? And if in bags, any clue on what size of suitable bags 2-gal pots fit in?

Regarding keeping them moist... In the garage they might get dry, should I add some drops of water if they do, or just keep them in bags? And if in bags, any clue on what size of suitable bags 2-gal pots fit in?

You can put them into any kind of bag as long as it holds water fairly well, that is more or less hermetically sealed. Watering them from time to time is fine as long as they stay just moist, not wet. Another alternative is to plunge the pots directly into the ground for the winter months and mulch heavily.

I wish I could just plant them, but the ground is really soggy here, the deer are plentiful, and some earthmoving is ongoing. I'll try to find some really big ziplocks.

Thanks for the help!

Thanks, Tom, for answering,

I have all my pots out still - they will not break dormancy since they have just gone dormant. Like Tom, I place mine in bags. Since I use 6 inch plastic pots for most, they fit perfectly into 1 gallon freezer bags (the regular storage bags will allow water to be drawn out). For larger pots, I use double layer of white trash bags. With one layer if the winter is dry enough water will pass through the bag to allow them to dry out.

I water the pots, then let them drain a few hours prior to bagging so that the medium is moist but not too wet to avoid rot.

Good luck!

Ron

fundulopanchax,

I'm glad to hear garbage bags will work, because I couldn't find ziplocks of the correct size. I'm still debating whether I'll leave them under the porch and risk the squirrels, or put them in the garage and risk the car warmth. Thanks!