Cattleya walkeriana temperature

[spes1959@gmail.com]

Hi everybody,
Someone of you follow the instructions of Charles and Margaret L. Baker about temperature for Cattleya Walkeriana?
Winter days average 74-76F (23-24C), and nights average 50-53F (10-12C), with a diurnal range of 23-24F (13C).

Thank you so much for your answer

[Shadeflower]

I am pretty sure the answer will be no...
I only have some walkeriana hybrids, a nobilior and a pumila all requiring about the same temps.

The temps in winter just serve to slow down growth a little.

Don't worry about getting it precisely right.

What is important is to maintain a yearly schedule, including a rest. How do you initiate a rest? Either colder temps, less light hours or less watering. I religiously stick to light hours to determine the "rest" period. Depending on the temps and growth rate in that time they either get watered or not.

If you give less light hours but keep temps warm the plant might not rest and thus not flower as well.

But it is imo far more important to get the light hours right.

If you give a plant 14 hours of light all year it would mess up the "rest" period far more than if you do not give it cold temps in winter.

But this is a bit of speculation. Others insist the way to get an orchid to rest is to reduce watering and fertilzing.

So you will have to do a bit of research on that and make up your own mind what you think you need to provide.

The temps you mention are imo the lowest they can handle, but certainly not needed. Also they would not experience such extremes on a daily basis. Maybe some days it would drop but most days it would be milder so not a requirment in indoor horticulture.

[spes1959@gmail.com]

Thank you for your quick answer. I keep my walkeriane in a glass veranda with south-west exposure reducing the hours of light: in December a maximum of 11 hours and then in January an increase of 15 minutes every 10 days to arrive in early February to have at least 12 hours that then I keep it until March when the natural light will take effect. The daily temperature ranges from 17 to 21 degrees celsius. If the day is sunny it reaches 22. Humidity always higher than 60%

[thefish1337]

Originally Posted by spes1959@gmail.com

Hi everybody,
Someone of you follow the instructions of Charles and Margaret L. Baker about temperature for Cattleya Walkeriana?
Winter days average 74-76F (23-24C), and nights average 50-53F (10-12C), with a diurnal range of 23-24F (13C).

Thank you so much for your answer

Another cultural tip I have heard from a very experienced walkeriana grower here is that in it's natural habitat many of the trees it grows on or near are deciduous. The plants actually receive more light in the winter than in summer, and they are soaked by fog every night so water when dry always (make sure the mix is not too water retentive, they like water but not to be wet for too long). Pure walkeriana are daylenght sensitive and do not take kindly to light pollution at night and will not bloom well or at all if they do not have at least 13 hours of night in the winter.

[spes1959@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by thefish1337

Another cultural tip I have heard from a very experienced walkeriana grower here is that in it's natural habitat many of the trees it grows on or near are deciduous. The plants actually receive more light in the winter than in summer, and they are soaked by fog every night so water when dry always (make sure the mix is not too water retentive, they like water but not to be wet for too long). Pure walkeriana are daylenght sensitive and do not take kindly to light pollution at night and will not bloom well or at all if they do not have at least 13 hours of night in the winter.

All true, in fact the lenght of the night in the months of December and January is 13 hours and the waterings are rarefied with daily sprays of water.

[Aceetobe]

I grow it outdoors in San Diego. It doesn’t seem extremely happy, but it grows well - our average day time high is about 65, low like 50 or so. We have temps dip into the low 40s high 30s for a couple of days.

[isurus79]

Cattleya walkeriana experiences light freezes in the wild and can handle those temperatures quite well. This species is very tolerant of extreme heat (does just fine with 105F here in Texas for many months) and cold (down to freezing). They also do very well with reduced water in winter. No need for misting.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[estación seca]

I spent a few days in some C. walkeriana habitat in winter, I just didn't know it. This was in June, corresponding to December in the Northern Hemisphere. Days were in the 80-90 F / 26-32C range and nights in the 50s-60s F / 10-21C. Locals said it could get cooler but frost was something unheard of. I haven't been to all of its habitat, just this one part.