Hamelwellsara June "Indigo Sue" in Florida

[cday2inflorida]

Does anyone know if this plant will tolerate the South Florida heat? I've seen it listed as intermediate, but with the Zygo background, I have to wonder?

[Duane McDowell]

Should do well intermediate if it is grown in a smallish pot and kept constantly moist. NEVER let it dry out.

[cday2inflorida]

Thanks for the info. The vendor told me it would tolerate the heat. There is just so little information on the internet on this intergeneric.
I think my biggest issue will be keeping it consistently moist. I'm so use to my Cattleya and Laelia species that require winter neglect while letting me slide in moisture laxness in the summer.

[Duane McDowell]

Originally Posted by thumperinflorida

Thanks for the info. The vendor told me it would tolerate the heat. There is just so little information on the internet on this intergeneric.
I think my biggest issue will be keeping it consistently moist. I'm so use to my Cattleya and Laelia species that require winter neglect while letting me slide in moisture laxness in the summer.

That won't work with any of the Zygopetaliinae. You can get around some of it by potting wetter (sphagnum, sphagnum and lava rock) and putting the plant down low (on top of a crate under a bench perhaps). Good luck!

[cday2inflorida]

Duane, I certainly appreciate the info. I've seldom have ventured out of the catt alliance in 20 years of growing species orchids. I'm tired of the same old thing. I need something new to pique my interest. This plant had the most outstanding color. Do you have any other Zygos that you might recommend that grow warm?

[Duane McDowell]

Originally Posted by thumperinflorida

Duane, I certainly appreciate the info. I've seldom have ventured out of the catt alliance in 20 years of growing species orchids. I'm tired of the same old thing. I need something new to pique my interest. This plant had the most outstanding color. Do you have any other Zygos that you might recommend that grow warm?

I haven't grown any of this alliance in years. However, when I worked for a commercial concern, we grew Zygos (mackii, B.G. White, etc..) in with a mixed collection. The big thing was keeping them moist. In warm conditions, they would get some ugly black spotting on the leaves, but it didn't hurt the blooming any. I'd say try the hybrid. It's stood the test of time and it appeals to you! Once you've had some success, you can branch out into Huntleyas and Bolleas and Pescatoreas (Oh my!).

[Angurek]

Originally Posted by thumperinflorida

Does anyone know if this plant will tolerate the South Florida heat? I've seen it listed as intermediate, but with the Zygo background, I have to wonder?

Zygos are very heat-tolerant, especially the intergenerics. They should do well for you here in FL, so long as you keep them evenly moist. They can handle dryness, but not for extended periods of time. If you keep a Zygopetalum too dry, the new growths tend to come in undersized, and the plant will fail to flower.

One thing to watch out for with this alliance is diseases. Because of the high humidity and moisture levels here, bacterial and fungal diseases can absolutely destroy them (my zygos were pretty much all wiped out by a freak erwinia outbreak). When you water, do so in the morning, and make sure you aren't overwatering, or the new leads will damp off.

Originally Posted by Duane McDowell

In warm conditions, they would get some ugly black spotting on the leaves, but it didn't hurt the blooming any. I'd say try the hybrid. It's stood the test of time and it appeals to you! Once you've had some success, you can branch out into Huntleyas and Bolleas and Pescatoreas (Oh my!).

Not true. From my experience, the only time they spot in heat is if there's a disease involved. Before my erwinia problems, mine were almost completely spot free, despite the fact that the summer temperatures here often go into the 90s.

As for the threee pescoroid genera you listed, well, each has its own cultural requirements. Because they don't have pseudobulbs, they aren't as drought-tolerant as Zygos, and they tend to need somewhat more water. Huntleyas are the most difficult of the three; if their growing conditions aren't kept even, they start to decline. You pretty much have to keep them in perfect conditions; they don't give you much of an error margin. They're also very prone to foliar problems.