I need info!
 

I was wondering if someone could tell me what orchid would do well outside in Kansas. It's very humid in the summer with a heat index of around 106F, 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. Is there anything that would grow here outdoors? My co-worker would like to know, and I am lacking in that department.

I don't know what would grow in the cold extremes. I doubt anything will.

Laelia anceps withstand temperature extemes: from up to 100 with high humidity and bright (but not direct) light, to in the 20's.

Great! I'll let him know. Thank you!

Laelia superbiens
Maxillaria tenuifolia
Epidendrum nocturnum
Bifrenaria spp.

I can recommend more...

Thanks so much Philip!!!

Well anything could grow outside.
If you have a greenhouse.
:lol:

I believe these are recommendations for warm season growing- I don't think these would be able to winter outside in Kansas.


I bet Philip could give you a long list of Cypripediums and Bletillas that could overwinter though.

I just wanted some info for my co-worker. I don't think he is all that serious about it anymore. But I'm thinking about getting something I can sit outside for the summer.

I assumed that when you were giving the low end temperature range that it'd include winter temperatures too.

If I'm wrong, then knowing winter range temperatures would help.

Btw, the only small flowered orchid out of the list I gave you is Max tenuifolia. All the other ones are fairly good sized.

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.

-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