Disa growing in more tropical climates?

[Tropic]

Having seen some truly fantastic flowering plants of Disa species and hybrids in Europe, I was wondering if they can be grown successfully in more tropical conditions. Has anyone got some experience on this Disa cultivation in warmer climates? And if so, what are the criteria to be met for its successful growing and flowering. This can be a real challenge I am sure.

[cb977]

Aren't they beautiful? I fell in love with the Disa species right away but from what research I've done, I can't grow them here in Florida with our temps

[Ray]

Ed Merkle, who lives in reasonably-warm Tennessee grew them very well by recirculating their irrigation water through a refrigerator.

[Tropic]

It is apparently very necessary to have the roots soaked periodically in cool or even cold flowing rain water and I am presently making a structure using PVC 6" white tubing with holes drilled into it to accommodate 3" net baskets filled with med. sized perlite and chopped sphagnum moss 50/50 mixture for growing the Disas. The water is pumped into the tube via a cooling tank at 3 hour intervals with a tidal e & f action, each time placing the net baskets into depths of about 2 inches of 60 degree temperature fresh flowing water for about three minutes. I will only hope that this is enough to give the Disas cold feet and warm heads under a sunny area affording only morning sun. All still very experimental here ... so now, I have to find some Disas to purchase and eventually grow successfully.
I was hoping that there would have been some orchid growers in Florida who had already taken the cold plunge and embraced the Disas with success. Maybe some already have.

[Ray]

Why would you add the sphagnum? If you'll be periodically dousing the net pots in liquid, and they will stay within the 6" pipe, I would think you'd want to eliminate that to keep the medium more airy.

Pure speculation on my part....

[Tropic]

Ray ... maybe I just have this mind-set that the Disa orchid must have some medium to grow into and spread its roots. You are absolutely right ... why use the Sphagnum in this already damp area? Maybe best to go straight to perlite and river gravel and keep things very neutral. At least then I will have less fungus potential to complicate matters.