southern calif orchid care
 

I live in southern calif, and new at orchid collecting, i live in the desert area and it get hot here in the summer, last year I lost several of my orchid due to dryness in my home, as least I think that was the prob. Any suggestions as to types that do well under these conditions. I have had success with Phalaenopsis, but would like to add some variety. thanks

Give your orchids to your daughter problem solved!:rofl:

How hot is it typically? Does it cool off a good deal at night? What is your typical humidity? Growing indoors in A/C?

I think if Phals are doing all right for you, there should be quite a few others that would as well. Den-phals (and possibly other types of Dens), Cattleya/Laelia (if enough light can be provided)

Try growing orchids in the genus Oeceoclades or Eulophia. Some species within these two genera are desert growing or grow in savannas, such as Eulophia petersii. Many of the Eulophias available are tropical forest dwelling though, (from subtropical and tropical Asia), but it gets really hot in some of those places.

Encyclia altissima is also another orchid you could look into.

You may try temperature tolerant orchids such as most of those that belong to the genus Laelia, and some species of Schomburgkia (aka Myrmecophila). The "rupicolous Laelias" would do exceptionally well in a desert type setting, because in the wild they come from rocky areas exposed to fairly bright indirect light that are highly seasonal, (it's pretty hot in the summers and pretty cool in the winters where they grow in the wild).

Many Vandas are tolerant of heat, with a few that can tolerate cooler temperatures just as well. Vanda coerulea is one, and Vanda coerulescens is another.

You could also try growing Stenoglottis spp, these are from South Africa and can tolerate cold and heat. These are pretty easy to grow.

I recommend doing some research as to which plants naturally come from places that have temperature extremes, (and there are plenty to choose from), and aim to get those instead of the cold growing, cool growing ones, or the strict intermediate growing ones until you are able to find a way to control the temperature(s) of your growing area(s).

I would also do some research as to how intense the lighting has to be in order for the plants to grow and not get burned. Not all orchids grow in bright light. Many orchids will get sunburned if they are grown under direct bright light. Most orchids that are commonly available in the hobby grow in trees if they were found in the wild, a large majority of them don't get direct sunlight at all.