I guess Middle America is in a deep freeze because of something they call the 'Polar Vortex'. Good luck, hope you don't loose too many plants. Since your winters are normally colder than the orchids will tolerate I'm sure everybody has provisions to protect them. We in SOCAL are paradoxically in a worse position. Our winters are usually tolerated by the outside plants so most of us have no provisions to deal with a deep freeze. Right now my night time low is 45F but daytime highs approach 80, no problem.
Occasionally, the last time about 7 years ago, we get what's called the 'Yukon Express'. The Jet stream dips way down into Mexico and polar air comes rushing down to us unobstructed. Temperature will go down into the teens which most plants won't tolerate. During one such episode SBOE lost 1/3 of their entire stock. 7 years ago I lost a number of plants, was only saved by cramming as many as I could into the warm greenhouse.
The last time LA got snow that actually stayed on the streets was in 1953 (I believe). Since they have zero snow removing equipment and nobody has snow tires, the city ground to a halt. Most of us are a little helpless to deal with this as it usually does not happen and therefore most of us have no protective provisions. I since I rebuilt both the warm and the cold greenhouse twice as big as before, right now I could stack all of my outside plants under some king of protected roof. I feel I'm safe from the Yukon Express but I know that many of my cohorts are not.
Good luck to whoever is affected by this, I feel your pain.
Nick
garyfla_gw
orchidnickOriginal Author
whitecat8
westoh Z6
orchidnickOriginal Author
Danielle Rose