What I recall reading about how Achimenes came to be called 'Hot Water Plant' was that at one time folks thought they needed to be soaked with hot water in order to get them to start growing. An odd thought, IMO, but my experience in growing them is they definitely like to be warm. They won't break dormancy until they get exposed to some warmth and they can throw tantrums if they are wet and the temp falls below 50F. But more than anything else, I've found they are a lot like me and really, really hate cold showers. I mostly water using the dunk method and try always to have the water at a tepid to warm temperature. Cold water causes discoloration on the foliage. Hard as I try, by the end of a season there is discoloration. Water will cool off overnight and, much as I appreciate it when I can get it, rain tends to be on the colder temperature range. Here's a close photo I took yesterday of a purple Achimenes. This one blooms heavily so it's not all that noticeable but the leaves have discolored. Probably the stock trough I use for dunking cooled off at night too much. It's unfortunate because a lot of them have naturally attractive foliage.
