LARGE ORCHIDS
 

I live in Tampa Bay and grow orchids outdoors all year, so I have plenty of room. I love the orchids that get REALLY big like some of my Cattleyas...any advice on the bigger growers? I've got some full 14" coco liner baskets and just love the way the big guys flow out and about. There are so many orchids, and so many varieties, I am just looking for the bigger growers...Thanks! Greg in HOT HUMID DRY New Port Richey 97F today,,,,,,,,waiting for that "rainy season" to begin lol

Hello Greg! I live down here in Weston and I grow outside, too. I also like the bigger plants. I like vandas a lot! I also have some big dens (see my gallery). We had a little bit of rain today. Orchids are happy!

Vandas are a good choice and there is no re-potting. I have one that is 3' and I've seen others bigger. C. Portia Coerelia, C. Barbara Kirsch and Lc Ann Akagi are orchids that grow into specimens fairly quickly. I've have them put on 3 or 4 new growths a year. And Brassia Rex Christine grows fairly large and quite quickly.
Good luck with your list.

I do not do Vandas....no need for me to worry about their care. BUt, I'll keep the others in mind as I search. Thanks Greg

There are larger Angraecums, like A. sesquipedale. Some Aerides get large. I had a Aerides lawrenciae that was about 2 1/2 feet tall. Note, both of these are in the Vanda alliance. Their growth habit and care is like that of vandas. Being in Florida, you'll have no problems there. Consider some dendrochilums that get large, especially once they become specimen size. Look at cobbianum, and magnum. My D. magnum leaves are a good 17 inches long. Stanhopeas, Gongoras, Coelogynes, and Phragmepediums could work, as many are large. Specimen plants can be monsters.

Big chids
 

Peristeria Elata this species gets fairly big. I got one I order from orchidsbyeli on Ebay coming in from Uduata, Puerto Rico. Efgorchids has some available on ebay has well.

Dendrobium speciosum and Schomburgkia tibicinisis are two of my favorite large orchids. The largest orchid is supposedly Grammatophyllum speciosum and the tallest is probably Sobralia altissima.

Like large plants as well - cymbidiums are my favorite but have found it worthwhile to look for plants that grow outside year round with the cymbidiums. Noble type dendrobiums do well as does L. anceps. Would like to see a list of what others find will grow outside in Florida. Although cymbidiums grow well outside - there are exceptions to this rule. Cannaliculatum and its crosses need to come in in the winter - not because of the cold but because they dont like the water in winter.

L. Santa Barbara Sunset 'Showtime' gets enormous. It has L. anceps on both sides. I gave one to my son that put out 8 new growths this year! It's well on it's way to becoming a specimen plant.

Yeah, I was going to suggest looking at some Laelias. Some of those get pretty huge.

Also, search the OB for Oncidium sphacelatum. I don't remember who has it, but an OB member is chid-sitting a MONSTER O. sphacelatum! It's a sight to see.

Good luck, you're lucky you grow the biggies. Lots of us are looking for the smallest ones we can cram into our terrariums.:blushing:

My suggestions

Arundia graminifolia
Arpophyllum giganteum
Anisella africana
Sobralia sp.
Vanilla sp.
Tall red stemed Epidendrums

/Magnus

Another one Grammatophyllum scriptum saw a picture of one they moved with a fork lift . also Ansillia Africana
Gin

I was also researching that L. anceps has cold tolerance in its parentage, as do some other Laelias. They can take brief dips into the 20's. I am definitely going to put some on my trees. We see a brief freeze every few years here, and in 1989 it hit 23F w/snow flurries (I saw them) so I need that hardiness just in case. Most winters 32F is the lowest. This discussion guided my research and I found out a lot of info. Thanks! Greg (who got some rain, finally)

Somehow I forgot about Laelia/Schomburgkia superbiens which is another favorite large grower of mine. It's considerably larger than anceps and I've had it growing outdoors here for perhaps 5 years now. I've read that it's not a cold grower but it definitely tolerated the bad winter we had a couple years ago when temps got down to the high 20s.

If you can find an issue of the March 1966 AOS magazine there's an article titled "Recent Florida Freezes" written by John A. Stephens that discusses how the plants of various orchid growers in Florida handled a bad freeze they had.

Oooh! Just thought of another one...Phaius tankerville. It has an awesome flower and it's gigantic. :)

The Phaocalanthe crosses do well ourside he in NE Florida - grow outside and get big fast.

Where does one get a Ansillia Africana? Will be looking for one.