What can I grow? West-facing deck in Los Angeles

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

You’re welcome.

I was thinking about your temperatures as well as your lighting availability. Depending on how far west you are in Los Angeles, you might have to consider temperature tolerant orchids due to the ocean breeze.

(I live in the east side of town.)

Those coastal breezes may be cool, but proximity to the ocean also tempers the heat. The OP mentioned living about 5 miles from the coast. That's about my distance as well. I have found it to be the "sweet spot" for getting away with growing a huge range of orchids. A friend, who also grows outdoors at a similar distance from the ocean sums it up... "Climate is perfect. Just add water and subtract sunlight"

[BarleyTwist]

King_of_orchid_growing, I'm in West L.A., about 5 miles from ocean. So it's generally cooler in summer than East LA. It stays pretty nice for humans under the shade cloths year-round. Ambient light is fairly bright even under the shade cloths, but no direct sun there except what shines through the non-shaded spaces. So I'm thinking I can do some light-loving plants in those bright spaces, and try to find some lower-light plants for under the shade cloths (even some of those areas do get a little dappled sun at times due to movement of the sun above as it shines through the open spaces). Thanks to your recommendation, I'm looking at the Sarcochilus species ...

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The ocean breeze does temper the heat as well. There are still a good amount of orchids that grow well outdoors in his area. Another to consider might be something like Acineta.

[Roberta]

Just a side note... shows are still pretty sparse (Santa Barbara just got cancelled due to COVID) there is one in the Orange County area - at the Westminster Mall, Feb 11-13, that will have a good range of vendors . I think that it will happen...

[BarleyTwist]

King_o_o_g, I'll look into Acineta -- not familiar with that one at all.

Roberta, thanks for the heads up about the February show!