night temps

[blahblah]

since finding out my new orchid is an oncidium, i've been researching and have read that night temps need to be 60-65. I don't have a greenhouse, so i'm growing mine indoors, but we have central heat/air and during the summer anyways we keep a temp ranger of 72-78 day and night. Now i've read that hybrids which i guessing mine is Pacific Heat, could bloom couple times a year. As of right now i'm not worried about it too much for i'm enjoying all the blooms on it now, but when their gone, from what i have read it needs to get the 60-65 night temps to grow another spike? Is this true and if it is, can i just sit my orchid outside in the carport at night for it to get cooler temps as long as it don't drop below 60 outside i guess. Or is their a better way of doing things at night for them?

[Makail]

Well, I believe their flowering phase for Oncidiums are between September to November from what I've read somewhere. I recently got into Oncidiums myself so don't quote me on that. I'm waiting for winter and wishful thinking that it'll spike once the cold comes in. However to me, temperature drops depends on where you live that would trigger spikes earlier or later in winter maybe...? Some also say triggering spikes can be due with an abundance of light. So far no luck on that here. Heh.

[78Terp]

Your oncidiums will bloom on newly matured, new growths only. Oncidiums will need nearly cattleya light levels to bloom well. If not enough light, they will just go into growing another new growth. And then you would repeat the process.

And yes. you can put them outside for cooler overnight temps. It is more helpful to spike phals with the cooler nights but ALL orchids like a nighttime temp difference.