learning

[cindy]

hi
my husband and i just bought a darthvador orchid. we have always loved orchids but we always thought that they where hard to grow. we moved to lakeland fl about 3 yrs ago from ohio where in the summer we always had the greenest grass, the most beautiful flowers and veggies. our neighbors where always shouting from their cars as they drove by how nice they looked. so now we are in florida and there isnt much green or color. we have always thought that orchids where hard to grow and we have been told that in florida you can grow them outside so we need any help that we can get so that we can grow lots of orchids for some color.

[Dorothy]

OMG You have come to the right place!
We have quite a few members living in your area that will be happy to inform you of their happy little (and big) orchids
Sue... where are you?

[cindy]

we live on the far north end of lakeland. we put the flower in the center of our live oak tree it is mostly shade but it does get some filtered light in the afternoon

[shakkai]

Welcome Cindy!! Can't be any help in recommending flowers to grow outside in Florida... but you are in the right place! Several members here should be able to steer you in the right direction.

[khill]

Hi Cindy--Welcome to Orchid Board! I'm in SW Florida and only started growing orchids about 6 months ago. Mine are all doing quite well outside.

I grow some of them on my lanai and some are on a fence under a very large oak tree, which gives them dappled sun, as in nature. Most orchids can't take the full mid-day sun in Florida, but either early morning or late day is beneficial. It depends on the type of orchid you are growing though.

You will soon probably become an orchid addict like the rest of us!

By the way, I believe I have the orchid you just purchased--Miltassia Dark Star 'Darth Vader'. Mine is currently in bloom.