Stanhopea tigrina in wowen coconut

[Roberta]

My Stanhopeas live outside all year around. And S. tigrina is especially cold-tolerant. (Stan. wardii is another one just as tough... it blooms about now, another nice one to have to extend the season) S. oculata is another robust one, S. jenischiana and S. embreeii also have bloomed for me but not as well. My winter nights go down to 4 deg C (40 deg F) pretty routinely, occasionally colder, rarely approach freezing. No problem.

[Kittyfrex]

Can i tell you...i love you? I was just wondering what to use the other basket as well, as well as having had a discussion with my mom about some more hanging-type plants.
I assume no dry resting for them?

[Roberta]

You could use that other basket for just about any orchid. (Other plants too, of course) I have found that most of the Cattleya group is much happier in a basket than in a pot. You can use large bark for those. Or Maxillarias. (IF you can get your hands on Max. tenuifolia, the "coconut'" orchid, use small bark, you'll have a fragrant specimen quite fast relative to other orchids) Or Max sophronitis is another one that is really rewarding. In your climate, I think you can grow pretty much everything that I grow, and more (since your humidity is better)

[Kittyfrex]

The thing is, i am limited to outside or wintertime greenhouse for the hangers, as i have no where to let it drip AND be in light inside the house. I have heard of the coconut orchid, and it's on a to-do list. But until my balcony is done, i am limited.

Just noticed the edit. You saying all of those live outside for you?
As for humidity, it's actually true, at least it was this year. As we speak, the downpour had lessened. ANd even in the hottest of summers, forgetting certain orchids was nowhere as punishing as something that lives in soil, regardless of experiencing the same humidity. I assume it's the root-specific adaptions that helped use up the humidity to counteract me being tired as hell.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Kittyfrex

The thing is, i am limited to outside or wintertime greenhouse for the hangers, as i have no where to let it drip AND be in light inside the house. I have heard of the coconut orchid, and it's on a to-do list. But until my balcony is done, i am limited.

Take a look at my website (link in my signature). There is an "Index of Orchids" page where I indicate what grows outside all the time and what needs a greenhouse (or winter protection only) About 90% of my orchids live outside all year around. So that list should give you a good idea of what you can just put outside all the time.... a LOT. Your climate is very similar to mine, so you will have similar results, I think.

[Kittyfrex]

I planned to, but delayed it. Been a rough couple months at work (tourist season is overdrive) and i haven't had any form of vacation barring one random day a week since 1st of february. But i am opening it as we speak, and i do hope there's Epidendrum parkinsonianum on the list.

[Roberta]

Absolutely... it does quite well for me. Also Epi. falcatum, a close relative.

[Kittyfrex]

Not yet familiar with that one, but Parkins has won me over, i just love those droopy leaves. I intend to cover most of my house in it, no questions asked.

Edit: Just saw D. Swiss Mountain Palace on there... and here i've been torturing it. Most of it had died, but i saw a 2cm new root, and some of the canes are still good looking. Let's see if it goes the same route as the brassia hybrid that spiked after 2 years of duds.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Kittyfrex

Not yet familiar with that one, but Parkins has won me over, i just love those droopy leaves. I intend to cover most of my house in it, no questions asked.

Leave room for other things... once you start down the orchid-acquisition rabbit hole, there is no coming back And running out of space is everybody's lament.

[Kittyfrex]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Leave room for other things... once you start down the orchid-acquisition rabbit hole, there is no coming back And running out of space is everybody's lament.

Hahahhahaha, oh don't worry about that, i intend to buy a "small" plot of land for plant purposes. I'm also giving up pretty much all of my succulents, cacti and aloe, baring dragon fruit, christmas cacti and kalanchoe, the others just did poorly. I had to water my oleander daily. An oleander. Yet my orchids perking up as if nobody's buisniess. So yeah, I am making some more room soon.

Yet another edit. Vanda, outside? I am in love with them but was alway spooked by my dim house. Is it really true?