Comprehensive Culture Guide—temperatures for growing orchids

In nature orchids inhabit various habitats, from low land rain forests to mountain slopes, to swampy areas. Therefore we can expect some orchids to need the warm conditions of a tropical rain forest, others to need the cool conditions of a slope on the foothills of mountains and yet others to have needs somewhere in between.

Orchids are classified in 3 temperature groups: orchids that require cool temperatures, other that require intermediate temperatures or others that need warm temperatures.

Here are the temperature ranges for the three groups, and please don’t hold me to the degree, as you’ll most probably see different ranges somewhere else:

Please notice the difference between day time and night time temperatures. In the natural world it is, most of the time, warmer in the day and cooler at night.

So when you grow your orchids keep this in mind, especially if you grow them in a bathroom which many of us, in the winter, tend to warm in the morning, then let it cool during the day, then warm it again at night.

But remember these temperatures are ideal ranges and, within reason, you can acclimate your orchids to grow pretty well a few degrees outside of these ranges.

Your warm growing orchids will not die if they are subjected to day time temperatures of 90 degrees for a few days or to 55 degrees for a few nights. But at these temperature levels your orchids will stop growing and will become more susceptible to insects and diseases, because there will be under stress.


			4 Temperatures for growing orchids In nature orchids inhabit various habitats, from low land rain forests to mountain slopes, to swampy areas. Therefore we can expect some orchids to need the warm conditions of a tropical rain forest, others to need the cool conditions of a slope on the foothills of mountains and yet others to have needs somewhere in between. Orchids are classified in 3 temperature groups: orchids that require cool temperatures, other that require intermediate temperatures or others that need warm temperatures. Here are the temperature ranges for the three groups, and please don’t hold me to the degree, as you’ll most probably see different ranges somewhere else: Please notice the difference between day time and night time temperatures. In the natural world it is, most of the time, warmer in the day and cooler at night. So when you grow your orchids keep this in mind, especially if you grow them in a bathroom which many of us, in the winter, tend to warm in the morning, then let it cool during the day, then warm it again at night. But remember these temperatures are ideal ranges and, within reason, you can acclimate your orchids to grow pretty well a few degrees outside of these ranges. Your warm growing orchids will not die if they are subjected to day time temperatures of 90 degrees for a few days or to 55 degrees for a few nights. But at these temperature levels your orchids will stop growing and will become more susceptible to insects and diseases, because there will be under stress.
	A Comprehensive Guide to orchid Culture Table of contents 1-Introduction to orchids 2-Potting orchids Part A 2-Potting orchids Part B 3-Light levels for growing orchids 4-Temperatures for growing orchids 5-Humidity levels for growing orchids 6-Fertilizing orchids 7-Watering orchids 8-Pests and diseases 9-Cultural problems Back to home Get as Printable PDF Venamy Orchids 1460 Route 22 Brewster, New York10509 Toll Free 1-800-362-3612 Fax (845) 279-2682 venamy@orchidsusa.com Copyright 2002 Venamy Orchids