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We have now discussed the habitats. It is useful to summarise the main characteristics.
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CLIMATIC FACTORS MAIN HABITATS
|
| |
|
LOWLANDS |
FOOTHILLS |
ARID INLAND |
TEMPERATE |
| HABITAT |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
| TYPICAL TEMPERATURES (DEG. C.) |
|
| NORMAL |
|
23-35 |
10-25 |
15-35 |
5-18 |
| |
| EXTREME |
|
17-40 |
5-32 |
0-43 |
0-25 |
| |
| DIRUNAL RANGE |
|
|
15 |
20 |
35 |
15 |
| |
| MAX. TEMP. DIFFERENTIAL |
|
|
23 |
27 |
43 |
25 |
| HUMIDITY |
|
|
65-90% |
60-90% |
20-60% |
25-55% |
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The main climatic factors of the habitats can be summarised as follows:-
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CLIMATIC FACTORS MAIN HABITATS
|
|
HABITAT
|
LOWLANDS |
FOOTHILLS |
ARID INLAND |
HIGH ALTITUDE |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 TROPICAL
|
| |
| TEMPERATURE |
HOT |
COOL |
EXTREMES |
COOL |
| HUMIDITY |
HIGH |
MEDIUM |
HIGH NIGHT |
LOW |
| |
LOW DAY |
|
| RAINFALL |
MONSOON |
MONSOON |
RAIN SHADOW |
FOGS/MISTS |
| DRY |
WIN/SPR |
WINTER |
LONG PERIODS |
WINTER |
| WET |
SUM/AUT
MONSOONS |
SUMMER
MONSOONS |
MONSOONS |
SUMMER |
| LIGHT |
DULL |
SU SHADED |
SHADED MONSOON |
WI BRIGHT |
| |
WI BRIGHT |
|
SU SHADED |
| CONDITIONS |
CONSTANT |
SEASONAL |
EXTREME |
EVEN |
| AIR MOVEMENT |
AIRY |
|
AIRY |
| |
| ALTITUDE m ASL |
0 - 850 |
850 - 1850 |
500 - 1000 |
1850 - 3500 |
| |
(to snowline) |
| CULTURAL GROUP |
WARM/INT |
INT/COOL |
WARM/INT |
COOL |
If there is one aspect one would wish to emphasise this is the fact that the main habitats
are subject to the summer monsoons. The following summarises the rainfall from the 4 habitats discussed, together
with a comparison with the monthly rainfall from Wellington N.Z. It is significant to note that we have much less
seasonal variation in our rainfall pattern, with generally more monthly rain in the winter and spring, but with
significantly less during the winter months. All the overseas habitats have a marked peak rainfall associated with
the summer monsoon.
The habitats we have discussed have significant cloud cover for much of the year, but especially
during the summer, a period when in this country we have our brightest conditions. It is only the Foothill Mountain
and Tropical High Altitude Habitats that are subjected to bright conditions, and this is only during the winter
and spring. During the summers and early autumn all habitats receive many cloudy dull days. The differing pattern
of rain and clear/dull days between the natural habitats for most of the orchids we grow, and what we naturally
experience in this country, is something we all need to be aware of if we are to be successful in growing and flowering
our orchids.
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The above brings together the rainfall and fine days information to emphasise the differences
in environmental conditions. The New Zealand rainfall is also shown, which, while relatively constant, indicates
the lowest rainfall is experienced during the summer, when most orchids experience their heaviest natural rainfall.
It is interesting to compare our average temperature figures with those from the 4 habitats.
Our temperatures are lower than those applicable to the Tropical High Altitude habitat shown, but fits in reasonably
well with the Altitude/Latitude table included with this article (with this country lying between 35-46 degrees
south).
To view this detailed chart full size, clik
on above chart
Adding the NZ rainfall, a typical non monsoonal habitat, the figures compare as follows.
To view this detailed chart full size, clik
on above chart
To assist New Zealand readers, the following shows the monthly rainfall of the main areas in this country.
To view this detailed chart full size, clik
on above chart
To conclude, it is to be noted that the summer rainfall is the one characteristic most
of the plants we grow will find different growing in this country. . This aspect must be considered in our culture.
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REMEMBER
WARM WET SHADED SUMMERS
COOL DRY BRIGHT WINTERS
ARE THE CONDITIONS MOST OF THE ORCHIDS WE CULTIVATE APPRECIATE
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