Schilleriana Murderer

[Nlamr]

I'm nowhere near the city, at least a 7 hour drive from NYC and an hour and a half south of Buffalo, but my water is definitely ok, the only plants I don't use tap water on are my Dracula and my Milts...... Everything I have is in my house so temperatures are usually 63 at night and 68-70 during the day (this time of year, a little warmer in summer months because I don't have AC). The biggest challenge this time of year is humidity, right now it isn't bad but in a month or so I will have to get the humidifier going. All three ended up with no roots and declined very quickly there after.... I don't think I had any last more than a few months

[estación seca]

Those temperatures are at the cool edge of survival for most Phals. Expect occasional losses. A heat mat would improve things.

[Dollythehun]

My temps are running in the 63f range at night. After it gets cold, I'll add a hester. Honeywell makes a tiny, inexpensive heater I use in that area. Amazon has them. They're called "heat buds. "

[Roberta]

My greenhouse goes as low as 59 deg F, but then the heater kicks on... winter night temps are mostly in the 62-63 deg F most of the time. (It is not that well sealed, and small, so keeping temps in a narrow range is impossible) and the only Phal species that I have had poor success with were the really warm growers like violacea and bellina. Phal schilleriana grows quite well, along with quite a few other species.

[camille1585]

I've found my Phal schilleriana to be similar to complex hybrid Phals in terms of temperature tolerance. My winter night temps in my living room are in the 63-65F range. During the day it's 68-70F, humidity is in the 30-50% depending on how wet and nasty the winter is, and my Phals seems ok with it. Not saying it's optimal, but there are certainly no obvious/visible negative effects. My Phal schilleriana is in spike right now, so it's not too upset by the winter living conditions.

[estación seca]

What I'm getting at is growing at lower temperatures like that leaves very little room for recovery from watering mistakes, occasional colder periods or a long series of dark days. Experienced growers have learned to be careful.

[SouthPark]

True E.S. True. Maintaining good growing conditions ---- maintaining - consistently, reduces chances of unexpected unwanted situations or issues.

That can make the difference between having orchids that just keep powering on year in and year out for decades for some growers, while other growers may experience every once in a while ---- some unwanted issue with the orchid's health.

But - naturally - if a grower consistently has no issues ---- for decades of growing ----- ok too! The main thing is to know what situations can create issues - and to just actively and continually ensure that those situations or conditions are avoided all the time - if possible.