Hi!
I live on Oahu in Hawaii and I've been growing orchids for about 12 years. I want to try some different orchids that are hot growing, don't get too huge and I wont be dead before I see them bloom. My elevation is like...10 feet. I do really well with C. intermedia, C. aurantiaca, C. amythestoglossa, C. digbyana. Is there anything else (preferably species) that I could try? Something showy and death-resistant . Any ideas? Thanks!!!
What about native Hawaiian orchid species?
Are your conditions hot and dry or hot and moist? (I am assuming moist )
What are your lighting conditions? Do you grow indoors or outside? greenhouse?
My conditions are humid but im next to the ocean so it gets kind of hot and dry in the summer. I grow outside in a greenhouse under 50% shade cloth. I also have a 60% and 80% area. Is there any books availible on costal orchid species? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
How about Hawai'i's Floral Splendor by Angela Kay Kepler? I got my copy at Volcanoes National Park. It's pretty general, but there are some "natives" in there.
Im more interested in orchid species from elsewhere. the native species grow wild here. And many are from the Phillipines orginally. I like weird but beautiful (much like myself, HAHA). I have bulbos but have not got the watering and potting thing wired yet. My other half is on this paph thing right now and keeps ordering flasks (help). I am mainly the farmer in our orchid set up. We have an embarrasingly large collection as my other half has a terrible shopping problem. I would like to get some things for myself if I can off some stuff at our orchid show next week so i will have some room. sorry for the ramble, back out to the greenhouse to get some work done. Aloha
That's hilarious I sound just like your other half. The orchids you listed will do good for you. I am also at sealevel an a minute to the carriebean ocean. You should look into carribean species. Broughtonias, encyclia, tolumnia, Psychillis, Schomburgkias all would do excellent for you. How are you growing your Bulbos? Bulbos usually have shallow root system so if they are in deep pots the medium can get really stagnant use shallow pots(I stay away from sphahgnum. I find they grow like weed mounted on tree fern, since it is free draining and retains moisture and keeps it humid by the roots.