can i grow Dendrobium finisterrae outside in south florida?

[DirtyCoconuts]

or will i kill it? It says warm to intermediate but that does not sound like i will be able to get her cold enough to bloom.

Roberta? anyone have this plant and can share its growing environment

thanks

[WaterWitchin]

I thought they were a cooler grower? Like highs of mid eighties? Wait for someone with REAL expertise. A buddy wanted to give me one a ways back, but after he described it, figured I'd have to keep it in the house year around so declined. I fried a couple of orchids last summer that were "cooler" growers (mid-eighties max temp).

[DirtyCoconuts]

darnit!!

i feel like that is probably accurate for this one too, but i really really want it!

den finisterrae - Bing

---------- Post added at 11:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 AM ----------

how does that old saying go? advice is what you ask for when you know the answer but wish you didn't

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

darnit!!

i feel like that is probably accurate for this one too, but i really really want it!

How does that old saying go? advice is what you ask for when you know the answer but wish you didn't

Ha! Exactly. Searching for the answer you Want to hear when you don't get the answer you desire the first go-round. That one's bitten me more times than I care to think of.

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

darnit!!

i feel like that is probably accurate for this one too, but i really really want it!

den finisterrae - Bing

---------- Post added at 11:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 AM ----------

how does that old saying go? advice is what you ask for when you know the answer but wish you didn't

You could always try the Den macrophyllum. That one seems to do well with my hot, steamy temps and is about the same size of orchid with similarly shaped bloom (and a nice n hairy back too, lol)

[DirtyCoconuts]

thanks so much Sara!

I like that one too but it is not as... nasty, for lack of a better word...i am always looking for flowers that make me almost recoil or first react by being startled...its weird, but so are orchids LOL

[WaterWitchin]

Eeewww, and I was already traumatized by the hairy back comment!

[DirtyCoconuts]

look at the finesterrae...the top two petals are basically eyes and the lip is such a mouth...they look like horrible little monsters and i want them all over my patio lol

---------- Post added at 06:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:39 PM ----------

Hey WW- speaking of monster orchids...do you have a Den spectabile? i am asking for a friend

[Roberta]

For Den. finesterrae... give it a shot... I have one that is growing slowwwwly. Had it the GH for the humidity, didn't do much. Moved it outside, maybe better but not sure I'll live long enough to see it bloom. I saw huge ones in Papua New Guinea, and just love the hairyness of them. They do grow at higher elevations in PNG, so heat may or may not be an issue. They do seem to love humidity (in PNG, higher elevations are cold and damp, lower elevations are hot and damp, damp is the common denominator, I didn't dry out until reaching Sydney on the way home) But be daring... orchids are pretty adaptable.

[Leafmite]

Have you tried Bulbophyllums? Some of the ones that attract beetles and flies as pollinators can be rather... interesting. Many of them like warmer conditions.