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Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:) (Post 334915)

Hey, Liz.

Kinda a heads up, the plants I listed has taken temperatures down to 36 F outdoors without problems. No greenhouses involved. I don't own one. Of course they're a bit protected because they're on the porch. ;)

;) Understood. Kansas can be a little below that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marydaniellesantos (Post 334613)

...and very cold in the winter with snow and an average of 40F in the day, and -6F is the lowest that I have seen it get.

-cough-

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzie (Post 334927)

-cough-

Oh, alright...

Minus points for me. :/

I didn't know that part of Kansas snowed.

In that case, look into hardy orchids like Galearis spectabilis (likes limey soil - add limestone) or Cypripedium kentukiense.

Bletilla striata or Bletilla ochracea will work too.

Aplectrum hyemale will grow in those temperatures and in fact has been known to grow a leaf during the snowy season (they like limey soil).

Calypso bulbosa (if you can find plants of these) are actually not very difficult to grow and likes it cold (it's up to you what varieties you like - they grow in the same temperature range). Grows mainly in coniferous forests where the tubers are buried in duff.

Spiranthes spp. can do as well. They're nice and small too. Easy to accommodate in limited space.

There are other hardy orchids too, but my knowledge of them is a little limited at the moment. I just started growing some native hardy orchids.

Try looking up stuff like Platanthera or Piperia.

In the meantime, here're a few warmth tolerant Cyps that I know of:

Cyp franchetii
Cyp macranthos
Cyp plectrochilum

The Chinese Cyps are special (which the 3 above mentioned Cyps are). They like lots of calcium. I put tons of limestone in the soil.

Izzie 1
Philip -1
:evil:

Inconceivable! I got a -1 instead of 0. That's harsh.
:/

Might be time to let someone else keep score... :biggrin:

You're right Philip, I'm actually going to look into getting some for my garden. Thanks so much!

MDS -

I live just outside Boston, so it's a bit colder in the winter and about the same in the summer and we have Cyp. Acaule growing wild around here. If you want to see pics, I posted about them here: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...explosion.html

I don't know if you can get them commercially, but if so, they grow like weeds. I only found pink ones, but I understand there are yellow ones too.

Good luck!

- J

There are Cyp acaule for sale on Ebay.

They like boggy type soils (acidic).

I don't know how warmth tolerant they are either.

Oh wow! I'll give them a look. :D