Heat tolerance of Paph. Henriette Fujiwara

[estación seca]

I was out of town Thursday the 9th through yesterday, Sunday the 12th. We had our first really hot spell this weekend, with temperatures in the 112-114 F / 44-46C range, 85 F / 30C at night. I had many plants outside on my patio, but moved them in before leaving.

Well, except for a couple I forgot. Paph. Henrietta Fujiwara was on a bottom shelf in bright shade. It is in semihydroponics and I watered it before I left. It looks completely fine with an undamaged new growth emerging. I will report back in a few days.

I also left a seedling Enanthleya (Epicattleya) Magic Wand out in the shade, and it is likewise undamaged. But that doesn't surprise me.

[Roberta]

Well, Paph Henrietta Fujiwara is a primary hybrid of two warm-growing Paphs (primulinum x haynaldianum). So I'm not surprised at the heat tolerance if shaded (so leaf temperatures didn't go above ambient)... it probably didn't appreciate the low humidity but put up with it, only a few days. Orchids are tough...

[Optimist]

I had my plants out for a while in early spring-- but in the 90s to 100s we are getting now in June, I would not. Do you think it was species or the micro environment that allowed you to jump the shark so to speak?

[estación seca]

It was in full shade, had plenty of water and is a primary hybrid of two warm growers. I think if the S/H reservoir went dry it would have died. A Ruellia elegans right next to it didn't go dry but it was crisp dead. I thought it would handle heat but apparently not.

[Roberta]

Interesting that the Ruelia toasted even in shade... it is supposedly a high-light tropical plant. Just goes to show... orchids have a full bag of survival tricks that other plants don't.