I know that oncidiums do, and dendrobiums. I know they all need to get less water while it is cool, but not so little to dehydrate them. I would need to get into the weather patterns of areas where non cold hardy orchids occur. For example, in India, 80% of the average rainfall occures between July and September. Orchid growth patterns are fueled by either monsoons or rainy seasons, and that has to do with the heat of the ocean or sea. Right now, they want lots of heat and water (some do not but that is another story, those we know best do). The best way to explain it is on the super clock, in that mankind in our present post industrial era way, has only been around for a scintillion of time, while orchids have done we at they've done for a few million years. Oh yes, we have done some modification to mke some more temparate zone qualified (so called intermediate) when it boils down to it, you have a dinosaur in your greenhouse, and she wants a dinosaur lifestyle. The closer you can get to Jurassic Park in your backyard or living room, the better. Understand weather patterns, you understand orchids.
So anyway, with weather patterns all orchids will have a summer and winter phase, even ever so slight. Simply that. The sea is warm at one side of the year and causes the monsoon that usually will occur in summer in the northern hemi, and winter in the southern. Then, the water starts to cool because the eliptical orbit of the earth (biology 101) the rains end, the dry season starts. When the dry season starts, you start watering less. In the case of dends they have a deciduous period, and need a hard dry rest and winter chilling.
My lame theory is that any orchid that gets root rot when it is cold because you were watering it when you should not have needs a dry or semi dry winter rest. The clue was the fact that I have killed dozens of phals and also, I have never killed a phal in the summer. They all die or become terminally ill in the winter. The combination of cool, dark, and water is deadly or a phal.
Orchids need maximum light, heat, water depending on separate maximums, in the growing season (often summer), and minimum in non growing season (winter in NA).
Right now, I am in New Mexico, the orchids are outside, and water 3 times per day. Temp to at was 101F. Humidity 18%. My orchids are growing like crazy. Why? Because this is as close as it gets to jurassic park. This morning, we got mosquitos. That dosent happen where you have less than 10 % humidity. I have created, or begun to create an environment in a little shaded space between two houses.
I have yapped a lot, but this really is amazing! Sorry if I've boared anyone! Cheers!
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