Growth performance of different orchids under high temperatures
Jingbo's Chengmei grows slowly, and Lüyun sprouts late; this is probably common consensus. But Lao Shen's Chengmei has grown especially fast this year. This reminds me of what a master said a few years ago: when the temperature reaches above 33 degrees, Chengmei does not grow slower than other Huilan orchids. To explain the issue, let me introduce a new term here, called...
Chengmei grows slowly, and Lüyun sprouts late; this is probably common consensus.
But Lao Shen's Chengmei has grown especially fast this year.
This reminds me of what a master said a few years ago: when the temperature reaches above 33 degrees, Chengmei does not grow slower than other Huilan orchids.
To explain the issue, let me introduce a new term here, called activation temperature.
Generally, Chunlan sprouts emerge from the soil in March and April, and with good management the first-generation sprouts become seedlings before July.
But Lüyun generally does not send up sprouts until July. Why?
This shows that Lüyun, compared with other Chunlan varieties, prefers somewhat higher temperatures, so its activation temperature is high.
This year the temperature has been high enough that many Chunlan have stopped growing, but my Lüyun is growing vigorously, and the new green is especially obvious.
Two pots even have second-generation sprouts already half grown, which makes me somewhat doubt life.
Normally in summer, Chengmei cannot outgrow other Huilan varieties.
But this year is different; the temperature quickly reached Chengmei's activation temperature, so Chengmei is growing vigorously and especially fast.
Chengmei and Lüyun react noticeably to temperature.
Although other orchid types are not as obvious, I think there are still subtle differences.
With this year's extreme high temperatures, I observed the various orchid types on the balcony and list the phenomena I saw as follows:
1. Lianban
I only have one pot of Lianban, a Hezhiguan given by a friend.
When it was given to me, the seedling was lush and dripping with green.
The new sprouts sent up in spring also grew promisingly.
But during the high temperatures a while ago, the old leaves could not hold on.
Many spots appeared, even more obvious than the worst freckled face.
Therefore I feel that Lianban is especially afraid of high temperatures.
2. Chunlan
During the extreme high temperatures, several pots of Chunlan showed spots, but the symptoms were not especially serious.
One variety with serious symptoms was Yiheding, which is a Sichuan-produced Chunlan.
First the third-generation grass turned yellow from the leaf tips downward, and when it was half yellow the mother grass began to turn yellow. But the new grass grew very well.
I think the environmental difference between Sichuan and Shanghai is relatively large, so Sichuan Chunlan was the first to collapse under high temperatures.
Lüyun was mentioned at the beginning; of my more than fifty pots of Lüyun, only one pot showed discomfort under high temperatures.
The pot that did not adapt was a typical greenhouse forced-grown grass; the division was a third-generation grass, and the leaves withered rapidly from the tips downward.
Leaves of more than 20 cm withered away in a week.
Fortunately, the sprouts continued to grow as usual.
3. Huilan
I think Huilan is the orchid type with the best weather tolerance.
Under high temperatures, apart from scorched tips, there were basically no symptoms of discomfort.
4. Siji
Siji are the grass that blooms in this season. I do not have many Siji at home, but they are all still growing.
5. Hanlan
Hearing the name Hanlan, one would think it likes cold and fears heat.
But I estimate that I was deceived by its name.
Hanlan fears cold in winter; below zero degrees, the leaves of some varieties turn black.
But under these high temperatures, Hanlan did not cry or complain!