Getting impatient....

[justatypn]

Buy throughout the year, the bloomers and that way you should have something in bloom all year around...works for me...

[Samheartsorchids]

OOhhh! yay! thanks nhman!

[Samheartsorchids]

Good idea Cheryl!!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Many Pleurothallis, Scaphosepalums, Stelis, Platystele, Porroglossums, and Masdevallias are cool to intermediate growers with a few being warm growing varieties. If you research the species, you'll get your answer as to which is which. They're diverse and hardy. Some grow very quickly and bloom almost all year long. Others grow slow and bloom once or twice a year. The flowers also tend to be unique.

[Ray]

No offense folks, but USDA zones are meaningless when talking about tropical epiphytic plants, unless you're way down in southern Florida.

Those zones refer to minimum, expected, winter temperatures, , which for most places in the US, are well below anything most of these plants can handle.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

So, then...Samheartsorchids...does it snow in Woodstock, Georgia? If it does, then the only plants you may be able to grow outdoors are terrestrial hardy orchids like Cypripediums or Spiranthes.

...If you grow indoors, then the plants suggested are fine.

But...it is agreed with Ray that if you grow indoors, the USDA zoning is not a question at all. If you grow outdoors, the USDA zoning is good to know, but it is much better to understand the micro-environment your outdoors growing area has.

[jkofferdahl]

Sam, rather than looking at the zone, which, as Ray suggests, is not a good method anyway, buy plants which fit the conditions where you will grow them. Here in our area we get some really cold nights in the winter and exceedingly hot days in the summer. However, like you I grow my plants inside, where I also live. In the winter I run the furnace (and so need to use a humidifier to compensate for the dry air) and in the summer I run the air conditioner (and so also then run a humidifier). Thus, the temperatures of the zone aren't really relevant to the orchids I grow.

Rather, what's relevant is the indoor temperature I like to maintain (I tend to keep the house a bit warm, being an old fart) and also the lighting I can provide. Phalaenopsis grows exceedingly well in the main part of my house, where I am. I've also had good luck with Aerangis, and have recently added a few Psychopsis which have fit in well. Several of the genuses in the Central American Cattleya tribe also do quite well. One room of the house is always a bit cooler, and has a little less light, and is great for Paphiopedilums. But the key has been to find plants that fit the house rather than which grow well in this Zone.

You're really close to a wonderful resource, also located there in Woodstock - Peach State Orchids. My guess is that if you went over there and talked a bit with them, you'd return home with some really nice plants that'll keep you in flowers pretty close to year-round. Of course, you might also return home with a LOT less money! Point is, they'll be great for guiding you to some good possibilities.

[Samheartsorchids]

Thanks Ray, King and jkofferdahl! I'll go mapquest them and make my way there!

Thanks for all your help!!!

[jkofferdahl]

You won't be sorry, Sam. I have some very nice ones that came from Peach State. They're great folks.

[lostonthebeach]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

You're really close to a wonderful resource, also located there in Woodstock - Peach State Orchids. My guess is that if you went over there and talked a bit with them, you'd return home with some really nice plants that'll keep you in flowers pretty close to year-round. Of course, you might also return home with a LOT less money! Point is, they'll be great for guiding you to some good possibilities.

:iagree:

Local growers are usually a great source of information as to what does best under local conditions.