Cattleyas for cool climates
 

I wonder if there are catts that could be grown outside with the conditions bellow. I believe the most critical is the winter.

My climate is:

Summer - upper 90's (35º C day) + 70's (20º C night) and HR 25% max

Winter - low 50's (12º C day) + low 40's (4º C night) and HR 80% min

Plenty of sun most of the year.

These are average readings, it can go to extremes.

Thank you

Does size matter?

If not, some Sophronitis might do well. These are the more available (at least in the US).

brevipedunculata
coccinea
wittigiana


I'm sure there are many others in the alliance.

(This group is currently in the taxonomists sights so I don't know which have made the switch to Cattleya)

In addition to Sophronitis, I've read that some bifolate Brazilian Catts are cool-tolerant. I would be cautious with pushing the lower temperature limits though.

Not really. They are supposed to grow outdoors.

There's something I can't control. Hence my question.

I can get a Sophronitis brevipedunculata for 15,00 € at my usual garden.

Found a link here.

It seems the cool tolerant species can't stand high temperatures. Plus, they're not easy to find here.

yeah, sophronitis are great outdoors but not in heat... although any of the hybrids several generations in can handle heat much better...

tried and try would be:

intermedia
loddigesii
walkeriana (even though it prefers warm)

laelia anceps
l. gouldiana
l. autumnalis

or any hybrids with above in parentage can manage cold...

I can see my winter lower temps are not compatible with catts.
But I think the Laelias could thrive here but I have some doubts because in winter max temps are usually always bellow 14º C (57 F).

These are the ones I can get easily:

Laelia alavrenguensis
Laelia bahiensis
Laelia bradei
Laelia cinnabarina
Laelia crispilabia
Laelia dayana
Laelia jongheana
Laelia lundii
Laelia macrobulbosa
Laelia milleri x sophronitis acuensis
Laelia purpurata semi alba x gracicata
Laelia purpurata werkauseri 'Equilab' x Self
Laelia rupestris
Laelia schmidtii
Laelia tenebrosa var. Rubra 'Caliman'

:twocents:

I own several cymbs and they all grow outdoors.
But I want to try catts outdoors since I'm running out of space.:(

The catts I mentioned can handle low temps, i can vouch for that myself... gets that cold or colder in my area.

Those you named are all good down to 14 degrees, absolutely not a problem... more when you get down to 4 degrees (40's F)... you just want to keep them dry side and protected (from winds and rain)and actually they should handle that well...

purpurata, tenebrosa, lundii, bahiensis, milleri hybrid, I know for sure can handle down lower than 4 degrees... dayana was a bit iffy for me around 4... and jongheana, bradei, cinnabarina, I've heard actually do better with some warmth in winter as well... overall the brazillian laelias from minas gerias are temp tolerant, but do better with some warmth in winter around 10 degrees C (50's F).

The coldest growing laelias are mexican laelias... as i noted in last post...

Some of the most cold tolerant Cattleya alliance hybrids come from Laelia anceps and a couple of the other true Laelias with standard Catts of many types. These are used for outdoor growing in cool but (mostly) frost free parts of southern and coastal California.

There is also some breeding with a small very cold tolerant species called Epidendrum magnoliae from the southern US and Mexico. Most of these are smallish plants with Epidendrum form, but there is breeding with full size Catts that may be of interest.