maestro

[pmrorchideas]

So here I am, a newly registered member of your forum.
I grow primarily North, Central, and South American species orchids. Some of these are in a cool - intermediate greenhouse (small), some outdoors, some in/outdoors, as cold snaps dictate, and some are always indoors. The plants range from just deflasked to mature plants as old as about 45 years.
The greatest interest here is in the Stanhopea alliance, but there are many more, including outdoor Lycastes, Masdevallias, Draculas, and much more.
I have little space, so I try to be selective.
The orchids share space with some Nepenthes, some California Natives, fruit trees, and some horticultural ornamentals such one could find across this country. pmr

[Royal]

Welcome! I think you'll find this place to be very friendly and very informative. I'm inrigued by your introduction, as my focus is very similar but my collection is very different. I too, grow primarily species from the Americas, but my growing conditions and climate here are more friendly to the warm growers. I look forward to some good discussions. Post some pictures when you get a chance.

[Ross]

Welcome pmr, and I hope you get actively involved. There is a need for your your experience and I am sure it will be appreciated. Once you get the hang of this board, feel free to post pics (we love pics) and messages. Happy to have you here.

[Becca]

Hello and welcome to the Orchid Board! Glad you joined us! Do you have any pictures of your greenhouses? We love to see pictures!

[pmrorchideas]

Hi;
I may have some plants from you...received some bare root plants from Royal Orchids, but I thought they were importer in Florida.
I've been growing various types of orchids since about 1963, and even have one plant that had survived animals (ducks and rats, which ate some), a fire, drowning, and a few freezes from then.
Stanhopeas do well here, with the more hardy varieties from Northern Mexico and mountains doing OK outside, and others in cool rooms or in a cool greenhouse that has a mister and fan for hottest days. We can get as low as 15 degrees F outdoors (only once, since I moved here in 1971), and 109 F, also only once, but many times above 105 F.
The part of Western Texas that I recall the best is from Austin to the Pedernales (spelling?), although I've been from San Antonio to the North, touring the high plains and wine countries.
Best regards, pmr

[pmrorchideas]

Originally Posted by Becca

Hello and welcome to the Orchid Board! Glad you joined us! Do you have any pictures of your greenhouses? We love to see pictures!

The term, greenhouse, is nearly a joke. I widened my long garage along one side for 20 feet, but only 42 inches, so that I could use the large air mass to stabilize the temperature a bit for plants that I don't keep in the house, and which could not tolerate the winter rain or lower temperatures (rarely below 28 degrees F, but have reached 15 degrees and 22 degrees). I have misting and a couple of very low wattage heaters in there, with two fans, so I can fend off freezes, and keep the summer temperatures below 100 degrees. I try to choose plants that can either grow in the house or under my outside or "greenhouse" conditions.

My more recent acquisitions have mostly been in the last 12 years, but we lost most of the older ones when they got knocked into a large container of water during a storm when we were gone. Sigh! Those were mostly large cattleyas in 9" to 14" pots, old clones that we're hard-pressed to replace.
best regards, pmr
pmr

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[CoolPhrog]

Welcome, pmr...glad you could join the board! We look forward to hearing all about your growing experiences over the years!

[pmrorchideas]

Hello, Dana;
There have been too many "experiences," but much more learning since I joined Peninsula Orchid Society, and also started reading the AOS publications. I'd picked up much poor information through the years, but now check advice through multiple sources, including notes on habitat, experiences of others who grow most of their plants under lath or outdoors in my area, etc.
I can tell you that mallards eat Stanhopeas, that very few plants survive 15 degrees F (a surprise low), and that when I don't make allowances for a dip in the elevation of the sun, come fall and winter, that I have a good chance of burning the plants that are not protected by shade cloth unless it is in the 40s or 50s outside. I can tell you that many of the local birds like to use the coconut coir for nesting material, which can undo baskets that contained coconut husk chips or perlite, bark, charcoal, etc. They may also plant acorns in all sorts of media and pots. Rats and squirrels may eat plants, cats may bite or chew them a bit, and deer may eat inflorescences, and sometimes a bit more.
Yup! There have been experiences. pmr