Tips for growing orchids outside (or inside) in Florida?

[Karkadann]

I just ordered that book.. Can't wait to read it. Thanks again!

[rcb]

Originally Posted by tucker85

rcb - What do you consider the 1st and maybe 2nd prettiest areas?

Tucker - That would be parts of the keys and the panhandle coast

---------- Post added at 03:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Karkadann

One concern I have is regarding my bulbophyllums. Those are currently potted in 100% sphagnum moss. They're thriving currently, but I'm guessing they'll need to be potted into something else that holds less water. Would any of the inorganic substrates mentioned above work?

Again, many people in this part use bark, spag etc. My Bulbos I grow in shallow wire baskets, filled with either lava rock or LECA, and edged and covered with sheet moss. But, I have most of them setting in shallow trays of water.

I am planning a photo session with some of my plants tomorrow, and I'll be working with them getting some ready for the Sarasota orchid show this weekend. I'll take a pic of what I do with my Bulbos and post it here if you would like. It's a bit different than what is usually recommended, but it works for me.

I do want to reiterate, there isn't anything wrong with bark or spag moss. Just not my preference due to personal reasons.

And for your Bulbos in spag moss, I think you will be surprised how fast that can dry down here, if you are growing outside. There is always a breeze, and even with the humidity in the summer, things can dry quickly.

[Karkadann]

I'd love to see some pictures of your bulbos!

I'll most likely wait and see how mine do in their moss substrate after moving, before jumping into re potting all of them.

It's been both encouraging and frightening (I fear for my bank account) to learn that there appears to be quite the orchid culture in and around Sarasota. Already, I'm researching new plants to add to my collection. It's helping me deal with the dreadful cold weather for now.

[rcb]

Karkadann, I managed one pic for you today. You can see the wire basket, this one is filled with lava rock, the sides are edged with sheet moss, the top also has sheet moss. You can see moss is also growing on it.

Right now, I'm using aluminum foil as my shallow trays to hold water. Depending on weather, and where they are in my yard, I change what the trays are and how high the sides are.

[Karkadann]

Rcb - thanks for the picture! That's a gorgeous orchid!! I'd like to try something similar with my bulbos. It just looks very natural.

[iburntrees3o5]

Welcome to Florida. The most ass backwards state in the country, don't worry you'll soon experience what I've lived in for the past 28 years . I live in Miami. I grow mainly Bulbophyllum and Ocidium. Just recently got really into Psychopsis, Catasetums and Fredclarkera's. For the most part, every thing I have is in well draining media(heavy charcoal, bark,clay pellets, coconut husk) in clay pots. My younger plants are still in 2-4" plastic pots. My water hogs have more moss, to full moss(psy. bulbo. phal.) depending how young the plant is. My fully mature bulbophyllum are bareroot or with pure charcoal for support in plastic baskets, but watered daily. For my time collecting orchids, I find these the easiest to grow way down here. Most of my Phals Dens Cats don't do well, but I keep them alive(I don't think the like the heat). All my Vanda are just in wood baskets hanging on my wood fence, I have 9 or so, but they take up a lot of room with massive roots. But they love sun and due quite well in full sun conditions.
Due to extreme heat and sun, I grow all mine under a mango tree for a cooler environment. I use to have them under an oak tree, but my collection grew and the shear amount of leaf debris got overwhelming, so I moved them to their current location. As stated before, winters differ from North to South, Atlantic Coast to Gulf Coast. When they are in low 50s, I'm still outside in shorts and tee shirt in the 70s (not bragging, I love the cold )
Just my two cents. Hope I answered some of your questions.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Well, where to start. As tucker said, it is pretty much useless to start concrete advices as you need to move first and than go step by step. Many Florida growers grows mostly larger plants, Dendrobiums, Cats, Vandas and such, but there are many growing different species, large and small, and some growing miniatures, like me. Florida can bring great benefits, and great headaches. I always thought the weather must be great here to grow outside year round, boy was I wrong - summers are TOO HOT even for hot growing species (we had weeks over 100F this August in Miami when hot growers were suffering), winters can be too cold to grow even intermediate species (our November and first half of December this year so many unusual cold fronts!). It is constant work in progress, moving in, out, away from strong burning sun and rain in summer, from heat, than from cold in winter etc :-) You must love it to deal with it :-) Regarding your Bulbophyllum question - depending on species and size, I have many Bulbophyllum plants grown outside in Miami, sphagnum is perfectly fine for most large growing Bulbos, I do prefer mix medium size bark with sphagnum, works the best for my large Bulbos, plastic baskets. Small Bulbo species tend to rot in sphagnum due to high humidity and too much rain, and they do grow much better when mounted here in Florida! I do grow many species, from cold growing species (inside) to hot growing species. Do not forget, your plants will come from extremely cold place, so they will need to adjust also to new, very different Florida climate. Do you have plants that are warm growing, intermediate growing, or even some cold growing? You will need to ask questions once you move, and regarding concrete plants / species. Best of luck to you and all your chids!

[Karkadann]

Iburntrees - the random happenings and oddities of Florida are what make it even more interesting to me. I'm sure I'll get tired of that eventually, but for now I'll enjoy it while I can.

It gets a bit chilly in Sarasota, but still nothing like the normal winters in MN. The brutal cold just eats away at you..

I like the idea of growing orchids under a mango tree. I actually have two small mango trees that I grew from seed. They sadly may end up being replaced with grafted mangoes for fruit after I move, but I like the idea of making use of your environment as much as possible.
Vandas are number one on my list once I'm in FL. They do seem pretty hardy in hot, sunny conditions when acclimated properly.

TommyMiami - I do have to admit, temps in the 100's doesn't sound nice. During our summer heat waves here, upper 90's are the norm, and it's obvious that all of the plants are stressed. There's always something that has to be taken into consideration when you're growing plants, especially (generally somewhat finicky) orchids.

My plants are a mix of hot, cold and warm growers. The mango and avocado trees thrive in the heat, but I know my paph. fairrieanum would drop dead in anything other than cool temps. It's nice because having a mix of plants with different requirements means that I get to enjoy them everywhere - indoors, outside, shade, sun, etc.

I definitely appreciate all of the great info from everyone!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

:-) You just have to deal with it once here. Our Florida sun is also much stronger than the summer sun you have in MN. However when fall/winter comes, and temps go to only low 70 days and low 60 or even upper 50 nights, your intermediate and cold growers can camp outside and will enjoy it here in Florida. The rest of the year you can grow them inside, as I do :-)

[hcastil3]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

:-) You just have to deal with it once here. Our Florida sun is also much stronger than the summer sun you have in MN. However when fall/winter comes, and temps go to only low 70 days and low 60 or even upper 50 nights, your intermediate and cold growers can camp outside and will enjoy it here in Florida. The rest of the year you can grow them inside, as I do :-)

yes he knows his stuff!!!, he does a lot to make sure his chids are happy in Florida, and like he said, it can be a headache sometimes, but that goes for anywhere you live too