Miniature cattleyas warmth tolerance

[Palito]

Hello everyone. (first post )

What is the heat tolerance of those very small orchids, like slc. Red Jewel, slc. Dream Catcher, Slc, Love Angel, etc? will they survive outdoors in central texas? the temperatures under the trees where my other big orchids are located, are low 90s in shade and they do fine, but they are big plants.

thanks for any advice

Palito

[Gin]

.... Here is what I have found out in my conditions .
Mine did not like to be grown with the regular size Catts . I had to shade them more or the pots dried to fast and not having the leaf mass of the large ones the leaves dried out , I think the problem is the little pots not holding enough potting mix (moisture)to repel heat from the roots . Can you keep them indoors where it is cooler ? might be better off . Or sit the little pots in a larger one and add Spag. between the 2 pots . Gin

[Brutal_Dreamer]

to what Gin said about the pot size and moisture. We grow the minis under the large catts. We hang the large catts about six feet above the bench so they get the best light and the mini catts sit on the bench under taking advantage of the shade the larger ones produce. This helps them to dry out a bit slower than the full size relatives.

Cheers & welcome to the forum!

BD

[Palito]

thanks !

ok, I'll keep them indoors then, while I figure out a long term solution.

[clintdawley]

I agree...I've also noticed that my SLC's don't care much for the 100 degree plus days in July/August and they grow long and spindly and don't bloom.

A nice bright East or South window usually does the trick.

[bench72]

interesting thread this... I don't do well with my minis either... (come to think of it, I don't do well with many things... but that's another thread... but anyhooo)

so, is the issue that they need to be kept cooler but same light levels? or can they have less light than the bigger catts to ensure cooler temps?

cheers
tim

[orchid-man]

generally they like a cooler temp due to the Sophro in them

[Piper]

Don't forget that clay pots will keep the roots cooler through evaporative cooling, than plastic pots will. It won't help for the temp of the leaves though.

Moving air can do a lot to alleviate temp build up on the leaves. A fan on a plant will allow higher temps with less harmful effects.

Julie