Maxillaria tenuifolia upper temp range

[mook1178]

I am growing my tenuifolia outdoors in zone 7. With daytime temps right now in the upper 80's+. IS that too hot for this orchid?

I started to have new growth in the early spring, but I feel like it may have stalled

[Ray]

According to the Baker culture sheet, Maxillariella tenuifolia sees daytime highs around 85°-86° in early summer in its habitat in Jalapa MX, with strong air movement and bright, indirect sunlight

Water the daylights out of it!

[mook1178]

thanks Ray!

Everything I am finding said not above 75 degrees, but then listed mexico and CR as natural habitat. I know it gets warmer than 75 degrees there. It had me confused.


I am in pure Sphag so it gets plenty of water or maybe too much and roots are not breathing...hmmm

[Roberta]

I wonder where that "75 deg F" stuff came from. Fortunately, plants can't read. Mine gets whatever Mother Nature gives it (summer temps routinely in the low to mid 80's F and sometimes a good bit higher) and winter nights a bit above freezing. And it doesn't seem to care. Of course you need to bring it inside in the fall, but in spring/summer it benefits from the fresh air and breezes.

[camille1585]

Optimal temperature range is not always the same as tolerated range. For some plants what they can happily tolerate is sometimes outside the range of what they'd get in their natural habitat. Also, keep in mind that habitat data is based on averages...

We occasionally get heat waves here, and my plant has gone through some summers with several periods in the 30-40°C range (86-104°F). It didn't suffer one bit, and seemed to enjoy it. The key is to adapt the rest of the conditions to those high temperatures : somewhat lower light, and water, water, water.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Mine has tolerated temperatures up to 102 F recently, and 108 F several years ago. Those are extreme temperatures, but mine are routinely outdoors in summer temps in the mid to upper 90s F range.

No problems, and they do bloom regularly.

[RJSquirrel]

105 today Ill check mine and send ya a pic tomorrow

[Roberta]

When it gets hot, I just water the !@#$%#@ (choose your favorite expletive ) out of everything.