Newbie - Please be Gentle. :-)

[No-Pro-mwa]

Originally Posted by DavidL_MO

I was referring to humidity indoors - but I got a BIG humidifier

Check with an Extension agent for your Zone. The Zone map will have a major update real soon. But always be careful with Zones - they are based on averages of 20 years. In my zone 5b we have got to 25 + below in the past 15 years. That will kill a lot.

Outdoors here in Missouri it can be quite humid outdoors (100 +++) - I plan to take a lot of my orchids out this next summer - sheltered. But we are nothing like the South in terms of humidity. Heh.

And yes - there are MANY factors that are important - temp zone and wind are major factors. Others are sun time, shade, local & micro climate, location (i.e. S or E side of house). The South side of many folk's house can be a Zone higher than the E or N side. Ditto for planting right up against a foundation in a protected area - witness my cannas in the ground since 2010.

cheers and Merry Christmas.

I was too referring to indoors. But we have low outside as well double whammy. I wish I had a BIG one. I just got a new one but I have to haul water as my well water will leave white powder all over the place and kill my humidifier. Pain in the arss.

[RandomGemini]

I'm in 5b. I don't bother planting anything that isn't local here anymore. Rhododendrons are very popular in my area. I had three large ones in my front flower bed and I had to dig them out because they stopped blooming and then had huge amounts of die off due to frost bite. So now, if it's not native, I don't plant it. I still maintain a bunch of other plantings that were in the yard when I purchased the house, but anything new I add is local.

[DavidL_MO]

Hmmmmm most Rhododendrons should do fine in 5b. Maybe other factors as well - alkaline soil is the biggest problem in the Midwest. That and planting in an area that gets too much sun - they like shade. And they detest high wind areas - particularly high wind from the NW. Wilt Pruff works well with Rhodies.

Best place is under a white pine - shade and acid needles.

But yes - Planting mostly local varieties is the best way to go.

WRT wild flowers and most perennials, I plant most local.

[RandomGemini]

I think it gets too cold here for them. I know my zone is 5b, but the temps here drop really low in the winter, we'll spend a few days in January or February below zero and I think that's what gets them. My roses manage to survive those temps a bit better, but they often get a bunch of snow dumped on them and I think that helps them stay warm. The rhododendrons though, were sheltered from the snow by the pines. So when we had that two weeks of below zero temps a few years ago, I'm pretty sure that's what killed them. No insulation at all.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchidboard!

[Tindomul]

Glad you joined, welcome to the Orchidboard.

[ron-in-norcal]

Welcome fellow gardener! I've had all kinds of gardens myself, from balconies to acreage! And of course, I was a zone pusher, but from the other direction, trying to get plants that need winter chill to grow where I lived, with some success at times. Anyway, welcome to the fantastic world of orchids, they're very addicting!

[DavidL_MO]

Addicting? Huh!! :-)

A year ago I had no orchids and never had one - ever. Now I think I am up to 8 or so. Heh

And for Christmas I got 2 new Orchid books and 2 Bonsai books as well. My other new mania.

And got myself a present!

Ortho Orchid Guide for 1 Cent and Taylors Orchid guide for 6 cents on Amazon. Both Used. Look brand new.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome - very much appreciated.

Ron in No Cal - want I should send you a rooting of a Lilac? Not sure if they grow there.

[ron-in-norcal]

Hi David! What a fantastic offer! Is it a a Descanso hybrid, by any chance? I think that's the only kind that has a chance down here in San Diego. They were developed up in Pasadena for low-chill areas. When I lived in Sonoma County, it was cold enough for any lilac, but not here.

[DavidL_MO]

Originally Posted by ron-in-norcal

Hi David! What a fantastic offer! Is it a a Descanso hybrid, by any chance?

<snip>.

Sadly - no. Just your old style bread & butter beautiful Lilac with an awesome scent.

There is this thing called zone envy. Heh I would love to grow ... [fill in blank].

Oh well - my wife gave me a surprise NOID Phal from Aldys market - 4.99 $. heh Early Christmas present.