In many parts of the world, October is the beginning of Fall. This is the time of year when the temperatures start to get lower and the long hot days of summer are coming to an end. This month I will be discussing the effects of temperatures on your orchids.
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Have you heard the terms "cool down period" or "sunburned leaves" and would like to learn more about them? Temperatures play an important role in growing orchids. Like most plants, orchids have their limits as to how hot or how cold they want to be. Each genera and each species have their own unique preferred temperature range. You need to learn what the proper temperature range is that your orchid prefers to keep it happy and healthy. Also, most orchids grow best when there is a difference in the temperature between day and night.
If you grow your orchids at a steady temperature both day and night, such as 70°F (13°C) degrees, chances are you will get beautiful foliage but no flowers. Many orchids like the Papheopedilums, Phalaenopsis, and Dendrobiums will not flower unless they receive a "cool down period." A cool down period is a night time temperature of 10°:F (-12°C) to 15°F (-9°C) degrees cooler than what they receive during the day. The minimum length of the cool down period is usually two to three weeks in the fall. If you are like me, you will give this to them without trying. I wait until the temperature in my greenhouse drops to the lowest safe level possible for my orchids before I start the heaters. If you are growing your orchids indoors, you can meet this requirement for most orchids by simply turning your heat down to 55°F (13°C) to 60°F (16°C) degrees at night. For those of you that live in an area where the temperature stays close to the same both night and day, you will have to try and cool down your growing areas by some artificial means such as an air conditioner. The very best tool for checking your temperature is to use a maximum-minimum recording type thermometer. Mount the thermometer as close to your plants as you can. Keep the thermometer out of the direct sunlight for the best readings.
LOW TEMPERATURE
Orchids exposed to freezing temperatures and below will cause ice crystals to form in the plant tissue killing the affected area. Depending on the extent of the damage, the entire plant may be
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