Mom's Outdoor Orchid

[Supergome]

Hi all, new here and have an orchid I'd love getting some help on identifying, even just a genus.

This is an orchid that was given to my mother as a potted plant gift years ago. She's had amazing success in propagating it and now has several huge clumps, all of which bloom profusely every year.

It does fine here in Charleston, SC, in a sheltered, southeast-facing nook that's in effect a bit warmer than our zone 9b, probably just occasionally flirting with frost in that spot.

I don't think I see any pseudobulbs or canes, but my knowledge of anatomy is very limited. I realize these aren't great photos, so if a shot of a specific feature would help, please let me know!

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Supergome

Hi all, new here and have an orchid I'd love getting some help on identifying, even just a genus.

That photo posting method didn't work. The forum has a somewhat complicated method to post photos, but many people need to make 5 posts before they can use it. You've already made 2.

From the left yellow menu choose Forums then About this board. Near the top is a sticky thread, Tips for posting Photos.

[Supergome]

Originally Posted by estación seca

That photo posting method didn't work.

Thank you! I used method three, and the photos are showing for me, but only when I view my post logged into the forum, so I think it must be the five post rule. That should be easy to fix!

---------- Post added at 10:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 PM ----------

Okay, I have six posts under my belt now, so maybe posting photo links will work this time!

[Roberta]

A Cymbidium. And a very healthy one! Cyms can tolerate temps down to 29 deg C no problem. The plant can survive even lower though there might be bud damage. Just for grins, here is the story of a commercial grower who dealt with some serious cold, utilizing the fact that as long as liquid water continues to freeze, the temperature stays at 32 deg F (0 deg C) as the ice forms. Some of the flowering plants that got the "treatment" were in a show 3 weeks later, none the worse for wear. (Citrus growers use the same technique to save their fruit from frost)

Here is the link:
Casa de las Orquideas - Ice

[Supergome]

Thank you! I don't have any Cymbidiums, but clearly I need a division of my mom's the next time she repots. I just helped her repot these in the spring, so I may be waiting a little while.

[Leafmite]

That is really beautiful! Your mother has done a great job growing it!

[Dalachin]

Nice cymbidium!

Roberta, that article is wild! A bold move to allow the entire greenhouse to ice up, and it paid off, who would have thought. Thanks for sharing!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dalachin

Nice cymbidium!

Roberta, that article is wild! A bold move to allow the entire greenhouse to ice up, and it paid off, who would have thought. Thanks for sharing!

Not a greenhouse, a shade area. Cyms in southern California grow outside. But this grower's area gets a few frosty nights even in normal years, so infrastructure was there. (there is an alarm that rousts him out of bed to turn on the misters when the temperature hits 29 deg F.. but in that year it went down to 17. Cyms are tough but not THAT tough) Citrus growers do this on a much larger scale. (They also use wind machines to keep frost from settling when there's just a few degrees involved) The water technique works because as long as there is liquid water (low flow misters provide that), as it freezes it releases heat - and the temperature stays at 32 deg F/0 deg C. If the flow of liquid water stops, the ice layer goes down to ambient and everything freezes. So it's the continuous water supply that is critical.