Updates on "hard" growing species in Miami

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Hi everyone
since I inquire many rare species, and also some cold growing species that I was told will not grow well at all in Florida, I decided to give here some updates and encourage new growers! I do not believe something is not possible till I do try it myself, so the "supposedly" not possible orchid for my zone are tested by me and some with great success as you can see here!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Dendrobium cuthbertsonii - growing this baby inside the apartment hanging in one of my vivariums, bright light, intermediate temps, it seems to love the environment, I have it for some month, there are 3 new growths just pushing through!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Lepanthes tsubotae - cold growing species, or so they say! I do grow it inside the apartment in glass orb, intermediate temperatures, it is in this setup for some 3 months, did not have any spikes at the time I got it, now, 4 new spikes that are constantly re blooming! I added some month ago Lepanthes telipogoniflora, supposedly warm growing species, and they seem to LOVE the same conditions, telipogoniflora has already one new spike with bud forming, in some 3 weeks

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Constantia cipoensis - I did grow this baby outside through out fall, winter and spring, when temps got hot, I did move it inside and hang it on one of my vases, it seems to like the conditions, there is many new roots, but also 3 new growths!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Constantia microscopica - this one is really happy camper outside in our humid Florida, I keep it at the balcony year round, did grow some roots over winter and spring but now it has 8 new growths!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

These are just a few, I have many cold growing Lepanthes species, Masdevallias, even Dendrobiums that are all grown inside the apartment in my small vases and vivariums, and all seems to grow well or great, there is few buds forming on some of the Lepanthes, so I can't wait for them to finish and open. I am not saying that it is easy or success at all times to try grow rare or cold growing species in zones like Florida, but I can say from my personal experience, it is POSSIBLE! It makes me very proud and happy!

[Subrosa]

Tommy you're my hero! I've been hemming and hawing about getting a cuthbertsonii, but I've been concerned about keeping it cool enough. Sounds like it's worth a try. Thank you sir!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Tommy you're my hero! I've been hemming and hawing about getting a cuthbertsonii, but I've been concerned about keeping it cool enough. Sounds like it's worth a try. Thank you sir!

Subrosa, in your zone I would be not worried at all! I know people from Europe having it mounted on cork like me and stacked in plastic cup with moss on the bottom and open top, growing perfect for them, this way they provide good humidity and the temps in your zone are much better than here in Miami for sure!

[nikkik]

Great job, Tommy! I have the opposite here. I have let plants that shouldn't go below 50 on a regular basis go down to 48 every evening in the winter and they are gorgeous plants that thrive for me.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by nikkik

Great job, Tommy! I have the opposite here. I have let plants that shouldn't go below 50 on a regular basis go down to 48 every evening in the winter and they are gorgeous plants that thrive for me.

Awesome nikkik, and that's what I am talking about, someone told me months ago when I mentioned I will add Lepanthes telipogonilfora to the glass orb with tsubotae "IT WON'T WORK" cause tsubo is cold grower and telipogoni is warm growing, and I said we shall see, and I do see, it works just perfect! My friend Hector (also here) did grow telipogoniflora in warm setup, it did bloom from time to time with some one spike, he did move it to his cold/intermediate setup and in moth that plant went crazy, new leaves, many spikes, many blooms! I always say we all have to test it for ourselves, and either it works or it does not, but do not believe everything that is written somewhere!