Orchid Care
In order to provide your plants with ideal orchid care, it is important to realise that orchids grow all over the world and have adapted to a wide range of conditions. It is therefore impossible to provide orchid care guidelines that are true for all orchid species. The cymbidium orchid will for instance appreciate a night temperatures in the 50-65? F (10-18? C) range, while the popular phalaenopsis orchids should never be subjected to temperatures under 60° F (15.5? C). The recommended phalaenopsis orchid care is to keep the day temperature in the 75-85 ° F (24 - 29? C) range, and the night temperature only somewhat lower.
As you can see, the ideal cymbidium orchid care differs a lot from the ideal phalaenopsis orchid care. The difference in care requirements depend on the natural environment of each orchid species. A majority of the Phalaenopsis orchid species are for instance adapted to a life in humid lowland forests in Asia and northern Australia. They are commonly found growing on tree branches and are therefore protected from strong light by the lush canopy of the jungle trees. Cymbidium orchids hail from tropical and subtropical regions, but since they are typically found in high elevations they can cope with cold well. A healthy and well established Cymbidium orchids can actually handle 45? F (7? C) for quite a long period of time and will survive a short temperature drop down to 28? F (-2.2? C).
