Purchase help..please

[avian]

I just started purchasing orchids last Oct. and have been slowly adding to my collection. I wanted to try out Andy's orchids but am limiting myself to only 3 plants and trying to stay under $60. I wanted to get one of his stick plants but never trying a plant that has been mounted I wanted to stay with something low in price but that would also work in my environment so I chose a Liparis caespitosa. Want to stick with potted plants for the other choices so thought I would get a Masdevallia rolfeana and either an Encyclia aemulum or Maxillaria ubatubana.

I live in So. CA....inland valley area with temps ranging from the 30s in the winter to the low 100s in the summer. In fact yesterday it hit 100. My orchids are indoors but I would like to try some outside. I have a backyard that gets east, west and northern sun and have a few areas back there that get some shade and a south facing balcony. I'm trying to make the best choices for my area and also choose easy growers. Not sure if I should try the Encyclia or Maxillaria or even if my other two choices are OK. I had a tenuifolia and it got root rot even though I was careful when it came to watering it but I do have another tenuifolia (yellow version) that is doing OK. My other orchids are a mixture of species and hybrids (Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Zygos).

Thanks for help/suggestions. What do you think? Encyclia or Maxillaria and are the Liparis and Masdevallia good choices?

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You can look up orchid species on the Internet Orchid Species Photographic Encyclopedia, IOSPE. Do so, and pay attention to the temperature ranges and environment they grow in. I have observed most vendor's temperature ratings are wildly inaccurate for people living in warm, dry areas. Anything from wet forest or cloud forest is going to struggle mightily outdoors in your summer climate.

Ask people in your society what is easy to grow outside in your area. Master those orchids, then branch out. You will do well with Cymbidiums, Cattleyas, Laelias and many related genera and hybrids. You can grow the Mexican Laelias outside on trees year-round. All you will need to do is squirt them with a hose a few evenings a week in summer.

Andy sells great plants. Mounts are problematic outdoors in warm, arid areas like where you live.

Maxillarias other than tenuifolia are not lovers of your temperatures. Max. tenuifolia is pretty much the easiest to grow member of this genus. My observation has been most people kill Max. tenuifolia by underwatering, not overwatering, if the medium is not rotten. Many OB members stand their tenuifolias in dishes of water in the summer, and their weather is not as hot as yours. I would suggest you avoid more Maxillarias until you are successful with your tenuifolia.

That goes even moreso for Masdevallias. These are cool, wet, high humidity forest plants. Think Santa Cruz, or Laguna Beach on a foggy April morning. Your summer is about as far from what they like as possible, short of an ice cap. Those are mostly indoor terrarium plants for you, and even many indoor situations in inland Southern California will be warmer in summer than they like.

Pick an easy to grow Encyclia to start with, one suited for your temperatures, which would be considered intermediate to hot. The one you mentioned has been moved into genus Anacheilium. The difference is Anacheiliums have lips held upwards, so they look like little octopi, and Encyclias have lips held downwards. Many true Encyclias tolerate drying out better than almost all Anacheiliums, and I could envision many people in inland Southern California would find Encyclias easier to grow than Anacheiliums. Both are sometimes also still offered under the old name Epidendrum.

Some of the easiest-to-grow warm growing members of genus Anacheilium are cochleatum and radiatum. The flowers are very similar to the aemulum, but they will probably be easier for you to grow. They all like plenty of water year-round. Many Encyclias like to dry out completely between waterings in winter.

There are Dendrobiums from all sorts of climates. One can't generalize. Some will do great for you, and other struggle. Most Zygos like cool foggy weather, like along the coast in late spring.

As to Liparis - they are easy to grow, but want fairly high humidity.

[avian]

Thanks for your reply. What if I keep the plants indoors instead of putting them outside?
I've been using IOSPE and also Travaldo's blog. I agree with you that the information on vendors' websites doesn't not always match with the info on IOSPE, that blog or other sites I've found.

I know that one of the members from the orchid society whose outdoor environment would be similar to mine has Maxillaria but he keeps those in his greenhouse. I just joined the club in Jan. and really don't know or have contact with any of the members. I was very surprised when my tenuifolia started rotting. My other one looks good and is even putting out new growth.

As for Encyclias being easy to grow I had a polybulbon and did not do well with that. It was very small and in a net pot and I think I let it get too dry. I purchased that because I had read that they were supposed to be easy.

I have a species Laelia and that is doing well indoors. Andy has a few Laelia for sale and he recommended those but more than I want to spend.

I used the power search on the Andy's Orchids website to find easy growers that would be OK here and also talked to him. He thought that the Maxillaria ubatubana would be OK. Didn't talk to him about the aemulum or Masdevallia but added those to my list after I did another search. Guess I can search again. He has a sale right now 10% off and free shipping but that ends today. I've been doing research over the last few days and thought I had figured out what to buy but now you have me questioning and rethinking my choices.

[Jeff214]

I agree with ES and avoid growing the Anacheiliums outdoors unless you can water it very frequently. These like being moist and it was difficult for me to grow them outside in the coastal/transitional climate of SD. Once I brought the Anacheiliums indoors, watered them everyday, they started taking off again.

I found that Encyclia alata and tampensis (on a stick from Andy's) tolerate being quite dry.

Since my climate is much milder than inland SoCal, I can't give you any specific examples... but I know Aussie Dens, Laelia anceps, and Cymbidiums are very popular outdoor orchids around here (but depends on these microclimates in California!).

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I would suggest starting with easy to grow hybrids or species, rather than species that are very marginal in your climate. If you get discouraged you might give up.

There is not much easier to grow outside in your climate than a hybrid Cymbidium, a Cattleya hybrid, the Brazilian Laelia/Cattleya purpurata, or Laelia anceps. These are all spectacular when they flower. If you do some poking around you will find them for not much money. Laelia/Cattleya purpurata can stay outside year-round in your climate. It is extremely vigorous and easy to grow. (At one time it was called Laelia purpurata, and it has been moved into Cattleya. Most vendors still call it Laelia purpurata.)

For inside, start with intergeneric Oncidium hybrids, and small hybrid windowsill Cattleyas. Otherwise you will likely need a terrarium, or a heat mat in the winter.

A lot of orchids have been renamed over the years. Sometimes the name of the genus does help with growing them. At one time Epidendrum was a huge genus. It has been split up into many other genera. A lot of vendors still sell plants in this group under older names.

In general anything in Epidendrum will need to stay moist to wet all year, love humidity, and not many like warm temperatures. Anacheilium tend to like warm temperatures, but also higher humidity and staying moist. True Encyclias are for your climate, especially Encyclia cordigera. There are a number of Encyclia hybrids that are very easy to grow.

Epidendrum polybulbon isn't an Encyclia. It comes from areas where it is cool and dripping with dew every evening of the year. It grows in beds of moss on oak branches, and is probably never dry in habitat. It is easy to grow if you keep it cool and wet on a horizontal mount. It has very short roots and dries out rapidly in warm temperatures, which will kill the roots. It's not easy to grow in a warm, low humidity area.

Which species Laelia do you have? It would probably prefer being outside. Move it carefully so you don't sunburn the leaves. Gradually give it more and more light outdoors until the leaves are pale yellow-green. It will need plenty of watering during warm weather.

Other people here may disagree, but for a hot and low-humidity inland California climate, Andy's sells very few easy plants, other than the Laelia species. 10% off a difficult to grow plant is not a bargain.

[avian]

I do have 3 Cymbidiums (forgot to include those in my OP) that I got from a local hybridizer. I also have a few Phals (2 NOIDS from Trader Joe's and a species Phal).

BTW, what is the difference between a Zygopetalum and a Zygonisia? I thought I had a Zygopetalum NOID from Trader Joe's but it turned out to be a Zygonisia Murasaki Komachi. I recently got a Zygopetalum from SVO.

Doing a new search came up with Dendrobium antennatum but that's stick mounted. Also 18" canes, trying to stay a little smaller than that.

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------

The polybulbon seems to be labeled Encyclia, Epidendrum or Dinema. Sort of confusing. I know that Tropical Orchid Farm labels it Encyclia polybulbon.

I have Laelia Dayana 'Harford' or is the correct name now Cattleya bicalhoi? It is doing quite well indoors and has several new growths right now.

Am curious now as to what people who live in an area similar to mine might purchase from Andy besides Laelia. Maybe they have more shade available. I get 3 pages of plants when I choose bright light and warm/hot temperatures. Not all of those plants are orchids, though.

I have several Cattleya hybrids from SVO and also Carmela. The ones I got from Fred are compacts and minis. Got one of Carmela's package deals and I had no choice with what I received but most of the plants were Cattleyas and Dendrobiums.

I thought Oncidiums were difficult so I've been avoiding them.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by avian;928938

BTW, what is the difference between a Zygopetalum and a Zygonisia? I thought I had a Zygopetalum NOID from Trader Joe's but it turned out to be a Zygonisia Murasaki Komachi. I recently got a Zygopetalum from SVO.

Doing a new search came up with Dendrobium antennatum but that's stick mounted. Also 18" canes, trying to stay a little smaller than that. :)[COLOR="Silver"

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------

[/COLOR]The polybulbon seems to be labeled Encyclia, Epidendrum or Dinema. Sort of confusing. I know that Tropical Orchid Farm labels it Encyclia polybulbon.

I have Laelia Dayana 'Harford' or is the correct name now Cattleya bicalhoi? It is doing quite well indoors and has several new growths right now.

Am curious now as to what people who live in an area similar to mine might purchase from Andy besides Laelia. Maybe they have more shade available. I get 3 pages of plants when I choose bright light and warm/hot temperatures. Not all of those plants are orchids, though.

I have several Cattleya hybrids from SVO and also Carmela. The ones I got from Fred are compacts and minis. Got one of Carmela's package deals and I had no choice with what I received but most of the plants were Cattleyas and Dendrobiums.

I thought Oncidiums were difficult so I've been avoiding them.

Zygonesia is a hybrid (human-made) in the Zygopetalum family. It has Aganesia in its parentage as well as Zygopetalum - which tends to be warmer-growing than straight Zygopetalum. The hybrid grows nicely under Phalaenopsis conditions - indoors.

L. anceps and its hybrids tend to be pretty bullet-proof for outdoor growing, even inland. Most of the SVO plants will do fine outside, with a little shading.

DEndrobium antennatum will definitely be an indoor plant for you, especially in winter. For outdoor growing, go for the Australian Dens... SVO has a bunch of them. Den. speciosum, with a little shading, will laugh at the temperatures both high and low (a little shading from direct sun, though, or you can still toast leaves)

From Andy, also consider the rupiculous Laelias. (He can point you in the right direction) These come from Brazil in an area that gets really hot, but also most also grow in the adjoining mountains, so they also tolerate cold. They are brilliant colors - yellow, reds, oranges, and often bloom more than once a year. Andy has them growing in straight gravel, I add just a little organic to more closely mimic their environment.

Take a look at my website (link in signature line)... I have a list of all the plants on the site, with where I grow them. (Outdoors, greenhouse, etc.) But I live near the coast, so some of the mounted stuff, and ones without pseudobulbs, will be a challenge for you. If something catches your fancy, do feel free to send me a PM to get more details on any particular plant or group of them.

[avian]

Roberta, thanks for the reply.
I was considering an Aussie Den at one time and Fred even recommended one to me but then I wasn't sure I wanted that. I found a list of rupiculous Laelias and doesn't look as if Andy has those, at least don't see any listed on his website.

Sent you a PM.

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Aganesia cyanea grows in trees in the Amazon basin. The entire plant except for the flower spike can be under water for weeks during flood season. Most of its hybrids need to stay moist during summer.

Aussie Dens would be a very good choice for you. Many of the orange, red or yellow-flowered mini or windowsill Cats Fred Clarke sells are bred from rupicolous Brazilian Laelias, and much much much easier to grow than the species. Look for plants bred from LC Jalapa, AKA Florence Lin.

[avian]

Thanks all for the recommendations and advice. I decided to not order any of those plants and just do more research.

I do have one of the Florence Lin crosses from SVO...it's crossed to Epc. Kyoguchi 'Peter's Pick'
It bloomed about a month after I got it. Flowers pretty and long lasting.