Orchids for dry Colorado?

[Izzie]

Browsing all the different cultures of orchids has been getting me thinking.
I certainly can't afford to get anything fancy, but I'd love to have some ideas for orchids that would do well in my area when I have money to burn in the future.
I hope this might be interesting for you guys to figure out?

As mentioned, I live in CO. I believe I'm in zone 5b- Denver area, foothills.

My conditions as far as I know:

Humidity: anywhere from 40-50%, sometimes 60%. it might be dryer in my home with our heater/AC. Most of my orchids are grouped together on a table, some on gravel trays. I could keep a few in my room where I have a small humidifier running at night.

Temperature: In my house, 65 at night, 72 during the day. It might get up to 75 in the warm window they're in. My room definitely gets up to 75 during the day, esp. during the summer.

Light: Most in a south window. I've never had a problem with sunburn- our windows are double paned and filtered. I have a west facing window I might be able to put some in as well.


I've never (in my ~2yrs experience) put my orchids outside for fear of messing something up. I hear it can be a great booster with the extra light.
If they were outside, they'd be on a protected patio that gets a lot of direct southern sun, with some shaded spots I could fit them in. I also have a patio table that always has an umbrella above it that I could put them under- cuts the southern sun by about 1/2 or 1/3 I'd say.
Here's a picture of a wall on our patio that faces the north that I could mount things on. The only other wall available for mounting faces the west, and is pretty full.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...erstuff047.jpg

Hopefully this will be a challenge for you guys! I'm fascinated by this kind of thing. Thanks for any input!

[WhiteRabbit]

You're humidity doesn't seem to be too bad. I live in a rather dry climate and grow a few types without too much trouble.
Oncidium, and Onc alliance inter-generics, Dens, Catts, Laelias, some small Vandaceous types, Cyms.

I'm sure other members will chime in with suggestions

[Donald]

You should be OK. My humidity is about the same as yours and my small but varied collection do very well.
I have cats,dens,cymbidiums and oncidiums some masdevallia and phals. Having a very hard time getting a couple of vandas to bloom. Happy Growing.

[Izzie]

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I forgot to mention that those humidity %'s are for inside. During the summer in CO, it's more like 20%.

[WhiteRabbit]

hehe - well humidity where I live is also very low in summer - usually less than 30% (and the hotter it is the dryer it gets - can be teens or a bit lower during heat spells). Altho humidity always goes up at night quite a bit - but still maybe 40-50% at the coolest night temperature.

If you can make sure they aren't too dry at the roots I think many will be ok. I would think that many dens, catts, and laelias would be fine.
Den kingianum maybe, Laelia anceps

I'm sure others will have more suggestions.

[Izzie]

Would encyclias do well? I've really grown fond of them, though I don't have any.

Is there any way to deter pests while they're outside?