growing outdoor orchids in SW Florida

[mlw]

Thanks for the note--in return I envy you up north the english garden flowers, bulbs, and fruit trees that you can grow so easily. But now that I've been in FL for 13 years, I've learned to go native or stick with what works in the climate I live in. It's cool that that that includes orchids, but it doesn't seem to include all--I wouldn't try a cibidium here, but in northern California where I lived for a while folks have huge pots of them on the porches!

[Royal]

Originally Posted by mlw

But now that I've been in FL for 13 years, I've learned to go native or stick with what works in the climate I live in. It's cool that that that includes orchids, but it doesn't seem to include all--I wouldn't try a cibidium here, but in northern California where I lived for a while folks have huge pots of them on the porches!

Smart. Here in TX, you can't fight the heat either. It took me a while to realize that if I just stuck to the warmer growers, I wouldn't need to do much but protect them from the cold. I grow outside too, and bring mine in over the winter.

With that said, don't be too quick to rule out an entire genus merely because of the general cultural requirements. There are warm growing (or heat tolerant) Cymbidiums, and there are species of warm growing genera that prefer lower temps. Heck, in FL you may be able to keep a Cymbidum outside most of the year, then bring it inside for the dog-days of summer. Just a thought.