Cattleya lueddemanniana temperatures?

[smweaver]

Can anyone who's familiar with Cattleya lueddemanniana tell me whether or not it's adaptable to, or at least tolerant of, cool to intermediate night temperatures? Everything I've read so far has indicated that, unlike most other unifoliate cattleya species. C. lueddemanniana prefers consistently warm temperatures at night (average of 62 to 65 F). I grow all of my species in the same sunroom during the colder months of the year, and the night temperatures average anywhere between 55 and 60 F. Is this range too cold for this species? Thank you!

Steve

[kavanaru]

Steve, my experience with this especies is that although it normally grows in very warm regions of Venezuela, in culture it likes cooler temps. However, I think 55-60 is a bit too cold.

Keep in mind I am talking of temps around 68-75 in the wild at night, and preferrig temps 62-65 in culture... at least, my experience and that of many friends in Venezuela. In the region where I used to grow my plants (and also where my friends grow them) you rarely have temps lower than this at night. On the other hand, the most important nurseries around Caracas are located around "El Hatillo", they grow very good C. lueddemannianas and they can have night temps around 60 between December and January.

[smweaver]

Thanks, Ramon. Well, I guess I'll try to find a good home for my lueddemanniana--which is a shame since it's got three new growths that are just starting! I could probably bring it into the main area of the house, but it would just be too much of a strain, I think, on the other cattleyas to require them to adapt to warmer night temperatures simply to satisfy the needs of one plant. Oh well, perhaps when I retire and move to Tahiti I can reconsider my options. :-) Thank you again for your feedback.

Steve

[kavanaru]

if you already have that plant, I would not give it away that easy just keep it under your conditions and watch how it reacts... with orchids, you never know...

[Brooke]

Keep it on the dry side this winter and it should do fine. Water in the early a.m. on a very sunny day, keep it in the sun throughout the day. When you do water it, don't saturate it but give it light "sips" of water to wet the roots but not soak the media. Wet and cold is the enemy.

I grow many warm growers that must make do with temps in the 58-60 degree range because I pay the propane bill :>)

Brooke

[kavanaru]

Hi Jan, nice to see another venezuelan here (well, half in my case)

good info that you are giving here... and confirm my experience with this Catt in Venezuela: growings in the semi-desert of lara, but liking it cooler in culture. And now from my side to confirm your other entry, yes, Merida can be quite cold I only know 2 persons growing orchids in Merida, but they do not had C. luedemanniana (at least about 10 years ago, that I visited them the last time)

[veekay]

Hi to all,
I had been to venezuela several times, on one perticular occasion went on hiking from maracay to foothills of Andes mountain and we saw c.luddemaniana growing on rocks,also saw c.mossiae growing in clumps on trunks of very large trees(tree trunks were smooth and shiny)They were close to river bank.
It was in the month of march,was dry weather not chilly.
veekay

[smweaver]

Thank you, Jan. I think I'll go ahead and keep the plant for now, especially since it's healthy enough to be forming three new leads. And I do have it growing in high light. It's in the same south-facing window as the C. amethystoglossas in my collection and the leaves all get nice little round purple spots on them (not burn marks!) from the amount of light that I'm able to give them throughout the year. The temperatures you describe as necessary for C. lueddemanniana during the summers also won't be problematic. I live in the midwest of the US, which is notorious for having summers with high humidity and heat (average of around 80 - 90% humidity, with days between 30 and 35 C).

Steve

[ChrisFL]

Originally Posted by smweaver

Can anyone who's familiar with Cattleya lueddemanniana tell me whether or not it's adaptable to, or at least tolerant of, cool to intermediate night temperatures? Everything I've read so far has indicated that, unlike most other unifoliate cattleya species. C. lueddemanniana prefers consistently warm temperatures at night (average of 62 to 65 F). I grow all of my species in the same sunroom during the colder months of the year, and the night temperatures average anywhere between 55 and 60 F. Is this range too cold for this species? Thank you!

Steve

Should be fine.

[Intruder]

Very interesting discussion. Is all which was said about Cattleya luddemanniana also true for cattleya mossiae?