LARGE ORCHIDS

[Magnus A]

My suggestions

Arundia graminifolia
Arpophyllum giganteum
Anisella africana
Sobralia sp.
Vanilla sp.
Tall red stemed Epidendrums

/Magnus

[Gin]

Another one Grammatophyllum scriptum saw a picture of one they moved with a fork lift . also Ansillia Africana
Gin

[greg sytch]

I was also researching that L. anceps has cold tolerance in its parentage, as do some other Laelias. They can take brief dips into the 20's. I am definitely going to put some on my trees. We see a brief freeze every few years here, and in 1989 it hit 23F w/snow flurries (I saw them) so I need that hardiness just in case. Most winters 32F is the lowest. This discussion guided my research and I found out a lot of info. Thanks! Greg (who got some rain, finally)

[epiphyte78]

Somehow I forgot about Laelia/Schomburgkia superbiens which is another favorite large grower of mine. It's considerably larger than anceps and I've had it growing outdoors here for perhaps 5 years now. I've read that it's not a cold grower but it definitely tolerated the bad winter we had a couple years ago when temps got down to the high 20s.

If you can find an issue of the March 1966 AOS magazine there's an article titled "Recent Florida Freezes" written by John A. Stephens that discusses how the plants of various orchid growers in Florida handled a bad freeze they had.

[quiltergal]

Oooh! Just thought of another one...Phaius tankerville. It has an awesome flower and it's gigantic.

[orchids3]

The Phaocalanthe crosses do well ourside he in NE Florida - grow outside and get big fast.

[orchids3]

Where does one get a Ansillia Africana? Will be looking for one.