Cold damage in cattleyas?

[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.