View Full Version : Tropicals dont like it above 85F?
siege2050
08-22-2015, 07:54 PM
Here in Oklahoma, I have noticed that almost all my tropicals look the best at about 80/85F. We are having a very unusual year for temps and rain, and its been in the 80s (In August wow!) and everything is all nice and green now, and my basjoo finally started looking good. It makes me wonder what the normal temps are in the tropics. Its kinda strange to me that we might be hotter than some of the tropics lol, of course only in the summer. But we do get very humid here, about the 90 percent range is normal in summer. This really is a harsh place to live, the native plants are sure adaptable. Hot and humid in the summer up to 105F+(Humid, unless we are in a drought), freezing in the winter down to -5F, and unpredictable weather constantly. The 4 feet of rain, and cool temps this year has been interesting indeed. Anyone that lives in the tropics, what are your usual warmest temps?
robguz24
08-22-2015, 08:33 PM
Hawaii is just at the northern edge of the tropics and doesn't have the humidity or high temperatures of some other tropical locations. It might normally hit 85-87 a dozen or so days between July and September. This past month it's been high 80s to low 90s most days and much more humid. I think of most of the East Coast and the South as much more hot and humid in the height of summer than Hawaii. My couple summers in Colubmus OH were stifling and just awful most summer days compared to the hottest days I've experienced in Hawaii. The Galapagos, where I was in late March was also far hotter that time of year than I've ever experienced in Hawaii.
siege2050
08-22-2015, 08:40 PM
That's so strange to me that it would be cooler there lol. But that does explain why things begin to look rough here in summer, even with enough water. Quite a difference since its cooled off, I know some people on here grow stuff in Arizona etc. seems like they would totally fry.
cincinnana
08-22-2015, 08:59 PM
Locally ....
A real-estate agent will say Humidity , humidity , humidity.
Most of my plants like it.
.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5768/19898276994_67600f43dc_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/wjkSvh)
Flowers These plants always flower in August.. (https://flic.kr/p/wjkSvh)
by
Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/),
on Flickr
blownz281
08-22-2015, 09:00 PM
Being coastal you will always get the cooler winds off the ocean.
Much to my chagrin, Central FL is not the tropics. I have visited Costa Rica and the Virgin Islands in all seasons (I think) and temperatures (not in the mountains) are very reliably between 70 to 90 for the most part. We remain in the 90s during June thru August with up to 95% humidity so feel like temps are in the 100s. Ack.
As a Yankee transplant I consider summer here to be like winter up North. You can't do anything outside comfortably during "winter" (there too cold and here too hot). When I lived in the DC area you could not transplant anything during the summer; when I worked as a landscaper in Ohio I was told to do so and was surprised to have generally good success. Lots of clouds helped.
Here? I'm setting potted plants in permanent beds after Labor Day or even Halloween; until then they're where they get 3 to 4 hours of sun per day and careful watering. I concur with your findings about the comfort zone of tropical plants--they prefer steady temps with no freezes or frosts. Humidity IMO has very little effect.
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.