Growing with cold temperatures
 

Can I grow agraecoids in my higjland feidge? My night time temp is 50-55, and my day time tempnis 75-78. At night, every now and then the fridge drops it to 48 F and during tye day it occasionally gets up to 80 if im not paying attention to opening the plasric over my "air gaps.


What is temperature tolerance is so confusing to me. I do not understand how you all keep up with this knowledge. There are SO many species and, even plants within the same alliance have different tolerances.

And "tolerant" could mean anything 8depending on each peraon that says that. Does it mean it simply wont die but just survive? Could it mean tolerant every now and then, but what amout permanantly?mCould it mean growth will just slow down but otherwise the plant stays healthy? Could it mean the plant will grow fine, iust not flower?

I seriously hate posting these questions, like Im bothering you. I just dont see how you all keep up qith this. After an hour of research, i didnt find mych info.

Personally, I am delighted to share what I have learned from my orchid growing. A lot of knowledge comes from the school of hard knocks... along with learning what does work, there are things that don't and one can learn from failures as well as successes. I'm a "what can I get away with" backyard grower. Part of the fun.

Enough of the philosophizing... Since orchids come from nearly every elevation over many latitudes, I find it's only possible to make sense of the range of requirements by getting down to the species level. Angraecoids that typically grow near sea level are going to be less cold-tolerant than those from higher elevations, or that grow over a wider range. So, Angraecum sesquipedale (low elevation, northern Madagascar) really doesn't like to go much below 50 deg F and would prefer even a bit higher. (I can just barely get away with it outdoors in a sheltered area) but Angcm. eburneum grows both at sea level and up into the mountains - so can handle cold a lot better. My go-to source for species-specific information is Internet Orchid Species Photo Encylopedia (IOSPE) The icons aren't all that useful - read the text. Elevation is the clue... Madagascar highland areas can get down to freezing, even near the equator. So... for a particular species, do your homework, but also ask!

What Roberta said. IOSPE is easy to use resource. Take a spin through the Angracoid species there and I'm pretty sure you'll find several that will do well in the environment you have available. (This will also help you understand wants of hybrids as long as you know their background)

For a very non-definitive list (just the ones that I happen to grow), also check out my website (link in the footer of my posts) - in the Plant List, I indicate what I grow outside and what needs a greenhouse. (Actual cases... my own plants) "Outside" means that it can tolerate winter night temperatures into the high 30's F for at least a little while.