SoCal growers - what do you grow?

[j0onahra3]

I know there's Andy's Orchids in Encinitas, which is closer to San Diego if you're willing to drive. Cal-Orchids is a long drive too, but if you're right in the middle of LA, Cal-Orchids should be closer. Then there's Norman's Orchids in Montclair, CA. Those are the only ones I know so far.

I have a dendrobium star king outside with some phals under a 50% shade cloth. I do water everyday since it's summer right now. Just make sure you get orchids that can tolerate warm temperatures. The cooler temperature loving varieties don't seem to do too well where I live (pomona, CA).

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You can definitely grow a wide range of orchids in the Pasadena area! I live near Pasadena, (only 1/2 hour away from the surface streets). This place can drop down to 36 F at night during the winter. Only certain Phals can tolerate this. The ones with the orchids from the former genus Doritis in their heritage can handle this drop in temperature outdoors without a problem.

Maybe even Phal amabilis or Phal aphrodite can tolerate it outdoors year round. Perhaps even some of the ones from China as well.

Anything that naturally come from the lowlands or midland of Malaysia or Indonesia, forget it. You gotta bring those in during the late fall or they'll croak. Those that naturally come from Thailand are iffy.

Highland Malaysian or highland Indonesian orchids that don't require high humidity will do excellent here.

Some Coelogyne do great here.

[Kevinator]

It looks like you aren't going to be far from where I live (about 1/2 an hour away) so I think I can give out my experience. Right now, I only have my mexican stanhopeas and noID cymbidiums outside under a lemon tree in a shady corner but even so I am not sure about keeping them outside for the winter as temperatures can drop to the high 20's (F) at night. Daytime temperatures soar above 100 frequently and the Santa Ana winds drop the humidity to around 20% during the fall. This is why I grow almost all of my plants indoors as I can manage my conditions on a much better level. Even in the house the humidity never goes above 40% during the fall and winter and many of my orchids exhibit leaf pleating because of this. For example, my pescatorea dayana is exhibiting leaf pleating which I have never seen before in any pictures but I know I have been keeping it consistently moist.

Best luck to you!

[desertanimal]

Well, I just put some of my plants out today for the first time and burned the shit out of one of my cattleyas. I put them in a spot with only a few hours of morning dumb and a few hours of late afternoon sun, I think. But the one that's most sun-tolerant in Boston got sunburned to hell. Oh well. I have a very bright laundry room that may be where all the orchids grow from now on. The phals will definitely stay in there all year and I'll figure out where the Cattleyas and Dendrobiums will be happy sooner or later. I hate the look a shade cloth so I won't be using that. In good news, we got a bunch of absolutely adorable succulents that I'm in love with! So even if the orchids have to stay inside, the porch will have some greenery.

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

Socal sun is strong, it's going to take your plants a few weeks to get adjusted. Also today was a very hot day in LA. Normally, the morning sun isn't as strong. If you are going to put your orchids outside, make sure to have plenty of good air circulation. All my cattleyas and oncidiums came in door today and most likely this weekend. The only plants I left outside in this heat were the dendrobium nobiles, they are pretty hardy.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by desertanimal

So even if the orchids have to stay inside, the porch will have some greenery.

If you don't like shade cloth, how about building a lath house? This is a wooden structure with wood slat roof. Most people build them with 1 inch wide slats spaced an inch apart. It provides 50% shade that moves as the sun moves.

Or, people put orchids under trees in hanging baskets.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by desertanimal

Well, I just put some of my plants out today for the first time and burned the shit out of one of my cattleyas. I put them in a spot with only a few hours of morning dumb and a few hours of late afternoon sun, I think. But the one that's most sun-tolerant in Boston got sunburned to hell.

I second what SoCalOrchidGirl said about SoCal sun being strong.

I've mentioned this in a few of my posts. What some people elsewhere can grow under full sun, we here in certain parts of Southern California cannot - and that includes orchids like Vandas.

Like I've said prior, I don't grow any of my Vandas in full sun here because I've burned a few that way before.

Although, usually, LA morning sun during the summer is typically not very strong, it has been lately for a few days here-and-there. So much so that you can feel yourself getting a sunburn if you stay out in direct morning sun for too long on certain days during our summers.

[desertanimal]

I totally get what you're saying about the SoCal sun. At least, I understand the general phenomenon. I have lived in AZ (and landscaped there) and lived in the spiny forests of southern Madagascar, and when I was in Ethiopia this summer I was astonished at how hot the sun was, even if I was covered up in my best sun protective clothes that have kept me sufficiently cool in both of those other hot places. At only 9 degrees south of the equator, the sun is a lot stronger. The sun here doesn't seem ask that strong to me, but I guess I forget that my plants didn't go live in a tent for a month in Ethiopia, so they are still only Boston strong. I've got them in the shade today! The Cattleya I burned up was a nice, strong plant, so I think it will recover its glory eventually. I like the lathe idea! Thank you for the specifics on what to use! I can build a little cubby, which will be nice on the patio.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by desertanimal

...I like the lathe idea!... Thank you for the specifics on what to use! I can build a little cubby, which will be nice on the patio.

Before you build, join one of the local orchid societies. Chat with people there about what works for them, sources of building materials, etc. Go see some lath structures. Learn about how they're built and how they're maintained - for they do need regular maintenance in order to last a long time. There is a big difference between building with pine and building with redwood.

[desertanimal]

Good idea! I'm thinking more along the lines of a small cabinet than an an orchid structure, per se. But redwood is smart thinking.