Different Orchid Species Thrive at Different Temperatures

We humans can survive in the frigid tundra of Alaska, the steamy soup of Mississippi’s bayous, and Arizona’s sun-baked deserts; but, given a choice, most of us would prefer to live where the temperature consistently hovers around a pleasantly balmy 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Orchids are no different. There are orchid species that can survive and will even thrive in challenging environments, but your average orchid plant, depending on species, does best in temperatures that are comfortably cool or warm but not cold or hot. One of the hardiest orchid species, Just Add Ice Phalaenopsis orchids enjoy the same temperature range as humans: 75 to 85 degrees during the day and 60 to 65 degrees at night.

Orchids start to fail when temperatures soar above 85 degrees. Extreme heat causes fleshy orchids to lose too much moisture too quickly, stressing the plant. If the plant is not rescued and moved to a cooler location, it can begin to fail and may die. On the other end of the temperature scale, most orchids won’t survive in temperatures that sink toward freezing. Forty degrees is the low end of their temperature range; although, orchids do like it a little cooler at night just like people do. Orchids do best when nighttime temperatures drop at least 10 degrees.

When talking about temperature, orchids can be divided into three zones based on the weather conditions in their native habitats: warm, intermediate and cool.

• Warm weather orchids like Phalaenopsis orchids thrive in daytime temperatures between 68 and 85 degrees and prefer nighttime temperatures above 60 degrees.
• Intermediate orchids prefer temperatures from 60 to 67 degrees during the day and 50 to 59 degrees at night.
• Cool weather orchids enjoy daylight temperatures that range between 55 and 59 degrees with overnight temperatures between 40 and 49 degrees.