Ultra Miniature Cyms

[Bobfharris]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

Warmth tolerant means that the plants dont need to experience the temperatures under fifty in order to spike. These plants can also take temps up to and over 100 without damage. They are however not as hardy as standards and require a bit of protection if you plan outside culture, good choice for under lights and large window sills.

Actually warm tolerant has several meanings. 1. Can take higher temperatures ie above mid 80's. 2. Will flower without the day night differential of 25 degrees. 3 Will not have bud drop if temperatures at night are above 55 degrees. Also the plants are NOT weaker that are warm tolerant and I grow most of mine outdoors in full (very strong) sun here in Hawaii. Many of the excellent minis are from Golden Elf lines and or Peter Pan lines that are warm tolerant because of ensifolium in the background.

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by Bobfharris

Actually warm tolerant has several meanings. 1. Can take higher temperatures ie above mid 80's. 2. Will flower without the day night differential of 25 degrees. 3 Will not have bud drop if temperatures at night are above 55 degrees. Also the plants are NOT weaker that are warm tolerant and I grow most of mine outdoors in full (very strong) sun here in Hawaii. Many of the excellent minis are from Golden Elf lines and or Peter Pan lines that are warm tolerant because of ensifolium in the background.

I didnot say the plants were weaker than standards as far as light was concerned, I meant during the winter these tolerant varieties dont have the ability to take the occasional frost and rain like standards. I have seen a few of them that have gone through a winter and come out with lots of damaged and dead bulbs while standards look just fine.

[Bobfharris]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

I didnot say the plants were weaker than standards as far as light was concerned, I meant during the winter these tolerant varieties dont have the ability to take the occasional frost and rain like standards. I have seen a few of them that have gone through a winter and come out with lots of damaged and dead bulbs while standards look just fine.

First your findings sound interesting. I have not seen that my warm tolerant cyms are affected by rain at all. Many of them are outside in Hilo and it really really rains. Second, I cannot reliably comment about frost as we don't have it here. But when I lived in CA I had some cool weather ones that were more sensitive than some of the miniature ones and vice versa. For example Red Beauty is quite sensitive to frost. So I am a bit loathe to generalize. Having said that you still may be quite correct, and certainly about ones that came from ensifolium.

So I guess we need to draw up a list and mark them as to sensitivity to frost. A good research project..for a nice grad student somewhere.

Thanks for the discussion and provoking some thought

[orchids3]

Bob,
It does occasionally frost in Jacksonville Florida. Dont leave cymbidiums unprotected but mine have been outside for the past 5 years. I enclose the sides of shade area where I grow and the mist system comes on at 33 F. Dont let cyms freeze. So far I have not lost but one or two of my 2500 plant collection and that was canaliculatum hybrids which do not like water in the wintertime and an odd aloifolium. It seems like all cymbidiums will grow here in my reasonably hot growing conditions but not all bloom. Summer night temperatures are the real problem - I understand that non tropical cyms like 55 F night temps in July and August. Have never had any luck growing cyms inside ( I did for a winter or two during a temporary stay in Connecticut.) The plants are outdoor plants and have had plants drop buds just bringing them inside. I might add that I am not an expert so can admit to my mistakes. Experts make mistakes too - they just dont admit it . Rain and water are not a problem as long as you media drains well - am using Stalite gravel and CHC now and love the stuff in my enviornment. Standard, Intermediate and Mini Cyms does not compute with me - I look at the species makeup of the hybrids I buy and buy the heat tolerant crosses - or just gamble.

[Cym Ladye]

Bullsie,

All I did was to Google Dos Pueblos Orchids and the link I gave you was just the first one. I went back and read the rest of them to refresh my memory. Great reading although some were press releases as the one I sent and not as comprehensive as one might want. Just a "tease" so to speak.

I cannot answer your question specifically about Jung Orchids but many people bought the remnants of the nursery plants and I recall someone even trying to "carry it on" to some extent with an exhibit at the Santa Barbara show about 10 years ago.

The history of Cymbidiums in the Santa Barbara area is a fascinating one and luckily has not been lost due to the efforts of Paul Gripp and others. In fact, you might try to contact him at SBOE (Santa Barbara Orchid Estate) and see if he can answer your question personally on Jung.

Happy reading, good luck and good growing,

CL