Cold damage in cattleyas?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Merita

my plants have always been kept outside in other years

Merita - does this mean that these cattleya plants developed the dark patches while inside the house?

If it is a cold-temperature-related issue, then getting the situation under control should involve shifting the plants to a growing area where the temperature stays within safe limits all of the time. And then allow the orchid to recover. The patches will remain, but hopefully those region dry up - and then will stay very dark for a while, and then maybe change (in the future) to a dry tan/brown colour.

[Merita]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Merita - does this mean that these cattleya plants developed the dark patches while inside the house?

If it is a cold-temperature-related issue, then getting the situation under control should involve shifting the plants to a growing area where the temperature stays within safe limits all of the time. And then allow the orchid to recover. The patches will remain, but hopefully those region dry up - and then will stay very dark for a while, and then maybe change (in the future) to a dry tan/brown colour.

These plants are outside, under the trees, behind the house, they have always been there. I do not know why this winter they are so susceptible to cold, I imagine that something I am doing wrong or maybe sudden changes of the day and night with a lot of humidity too.

[SouthPark]

Merita - there are reports of some cattleyas being able to handle relatively low temperatures - even down to mid 40 fahrenheit.

But then there is the uncertainty of just how much a particular cattleya can handle ----- and statistics, such as whether some years may have extra high sunlight intensities or extra low temperatures.

Normally, if the plants are grown within safe limits all of the time, then we won't encounter those effects. But if quantities move out of the envelope for safe growing, then we can encounter situations like that.

Merita - on the other hand ...... if taking a chance is allowed (aka betting), then it may be possible that those catts might be able to take some of the cold-hits. This means that they'll come out bruised, but will just keep on growing (despite getting permanent battle scars).

Also, sometimes the conditions might not just involve absolute temperature and humidity etc, but also rates of change ----- such as how quickly temperature fell (or even how quickly temperature rises - such as very cold, but then gets warmed up by sun at a fairly fast rate).

[Merita]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Merita - there are reports of some cattleyas being able to handle relatively low temperatures - even down to mid 40 fahrenheit.

But then there is the uncertainty of just how much a particular cattleya can handle ----- and statistics, such as whether some years may have extra high sunlight intensities or extra low temperatures.

Normally, if the plants are grown within safe limits all of the time, then we won't encounter those effects. But if quantities move out of the envelope for safe growing, then we can encounter situations like that.

Merita - on the other hand ...... if taking a chance is allowed (aka betting), then it may be possible that those catts might be able to take some of the cold-hits. This means that they'll come out bruised, but will just keep on growing (despite getting permanent battle scars).

Also, sometimes the conditions might not just involve absolute temperature and humidity etc, but also rates of change ----- such as how quickly temperature fell (or even how quickly temperature rises - such as very cold, but then gets warmed up by sun at a fairly fast rate).

I agree with you, this winter has been different, although I still think that the plants are susceptible to everything because I cannot give them an hour of sunshine with low temperatures, in the morning.