High-temperature Inhibition of Flowering of Phalaenopsis and Doritaenopsis Orchids

Abstract

Phalaenopsis orchids require a day temperature of 26 °C or less to initiate inflorescences, whereas the night temperature has little or no effect on inflorescence initiation. We determined the duration of high temperature required each day to prevent inflorescence initiation of four Phalaenopsis and Doritaenopsis clones. In Years 1 and 2, mature potted plants were grown in separate greenhouse sections with five daily durations at 29 °C: 0, 4, 8, 12, or 24 h. The high temperature was centered in the 16-h photoperiod (0600 hr to 2200 hr) and the remainder of the day was at 20 °C. Exposure to 29 °C for 8 h or longer inhibited inflorescence initiation of Phalaenopsis Miva Smartissimo × Canberra ‘Mosella’ and Phalaenopsis Brother Pink Mask × Brother Success ‘Explosion’, but Phalaenopsis Baldan's Kaleidoscope ‘Golden Treasure’ and Doritaenopsis ‘Newberry Parfait’ required exposure to 29 °C for 12 h or longer to inhibit inflorescence initiation. Flowering was completely suppressed only when high-temperature exposure time was continual for Doritaenopsis ‘Newberry Parfait’ and Phalaenopsis Baldan's Kaleidoscope ‘Golden Treasure’ and 12 h for Phalaenopsis ‘Mosella’. Plant leaf span generally increased as duration of exposure to 29 °C increased, but high-temperature exposure had few or no significant effects on flowering characteristics of flowering plants. These studies indicate that as few as 8 h of high temperature can prevent flowering of some Phalaenopsis hybrids, whereas others require greater than 12 h of high-temperature exposure.