Tips on Growing Orchids
It is often mistakenly thought that orchids need a constant temperature in which to grow, yet nowhere in nature does the temperature remain the same both night and day, summer and winter. Wherever orchids originate in the world, there exists a temperature fluctuation, and in cultivation orchids can withstand considerable temperature differences. Indeed, these variations are often the trigger that initiates flowering and regulates growth.
In more severe cases, direct sun will burn the leaves, causing black areas where the sun's rays have destroyed the leaf cells.
Very small greenhouses are unsuitable because the sections created will be very small and the temperatures extremely difficult to manage. Ideally, two or three small greenhouses where the various temperature-range orchids can each be given their ideal would be best, but this is rather an extravagant option for the home grower
The minimum temperature is that experienced on winter nights, and indoors some form of artificial heating will be required to maintain that. A drop of a few degrees is not going to cause any harm, but if the winter night temperature is consistently lower by more than 3C (5F), the plants will suffer. Also, in colder temperatures other problems can arise, such as molds and damp spots on the orchids.
Orchids grown indoors have less light available, and the orchids will only receive this from one direction, so the dangers of giving too much light is not so great a problem. During the winter, it can be a disadvantage if plants are not getting enough light, and it can be difficult to increase this through the window area.
Daytime temperatures should always be significantly higher than those at night, and in winter there should be a rise in temperature of at least 6C (10F). Where temperatures hardly rise during the daytime, humidity naturally rises, and an imbalance occurs that will result in rots and molds. Orchids dislike being cold and wet, but they also cannot tolerate the other extreme of being hot and dry.
The intermediate orchids, which include the showy cattleyas and the handsome, shade-loving paphiopedilums, require a winter night-time temperature that is 3C (5F) higher, giving a minimum of 13C (55F) at night. Wherever possible, there should be a higher temperature by day, but this should not exceed 310 C (86F). Again, temperatures on either side of these recommendations bill cause the plants considerable stress, and over a prolonged period can cause their eventual demise.
At this time, the glass should be cleaned of any paint shading or green algae to ensure that the orchids receive all the available light. This will also add considerably to the temperature on sunny days, thus saving on the artificial heating. - 2368
In more severe cases, direct sun will burn the leaves, causing black areas where the sun's rays have destroyed the leaf cells.
Very small greenhouses are unsuitable because the sections created will be very small and the temperatures extremely difficult to manage. Ideally, two or three small greenhouses where the various temperature-range orchids can each be given their ideal would be best, but this is rather an extravagant option for the home grower
The minimum temperature is that experienced on winter nights, and indoors some form of artificial heating will be required to maintain that. A drop of a few degrees is not going to cause any harm, but if the winter night temperature is consistently lower by more than 3C (5F), the plants will suffer. Also, in colder temperatures other problems can arise, such as molds and damp spots on the orchids.
Orchids grown indoors have less light available, and the orchids will only receive this from one direction, so the dangers of giving too much light is not so great a problem. During the winter, it can be a disadvantage if plants are not getting enough light, and it can be difficult to increase this through the window area.
Daytime temperatures should always be significantly higher than those at night, and in winter there should be a rise in temperature of at least 6C (10F). Where temperatures hardly rise during the daytime, humidity naturally rises, and an imbalance occurs that will result in rots and molds. Orchids dislike being cold and wet, but they also cannot tolerate the other extreme of being hot and dry.
The intermediate orchids, which include the showy cattleyas and the handsome, shade-loving paphiopedilums, require a winter night-time temperature that is 3C (5F) higher, giving a minimum of 13C (55F) at night. Wherever possible, there should be a higher temperature by day, but this should not exceed 310 C (86F). Again, temperatures on either side of these recommendations bill cause the plants considerable stress, and over a prolonged period can cause their eventual demise.
At this time, the glass should be cleaned of any paint shading or green algae to ensure that the orchids receive all the available light. This will also add considerably to the temperature on sunny days, thus saving on the artificial heating. - 2368
posted by Frank Potter at 1:54 AM
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