How cold can a true vanda coerulea take?

[Jackie26085]

I am about to purchase a vanda coerulea from Andy's Orchids. I want to get this orchid not only because of its flowers but more importantly because I can grow it outside in the Bay Area, which rarely gets colder than mid-30's degrees in the winter. Andy's guy and my research told me that coerulea can take as cold as 10 degrees Fahrenheit so long as it is dry. Today, a guy at my orchid society told me that his vanda coerulea died almost immediately (without time to suffer) when he left it outside. Does anyone here know how cold these coeruleas can take in winters?

[RosieC]

I have no personal experience but your question made me remember seeing these photos in the past of one covered in snow.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomaskubicek/4479672048
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomaskubicek/7223083394

Apparently it survived it, but was moved inside when the temps dropped even further (see text with photos).

[Ray]

First, let me say I would never allow any plant to go below freezing. Water crystals destroy tissues.
Temperature tolerance of plants is not as straightforward as one might think.
At the same temperature, for example, a plant getting lots of sun will do better than one that is not.
We also have to consider that not all of the same plants are identical. Using a people analogy, while they are both Homo sapiens, Alaskan Inuits and Australian Aborigines have ENTIRELY different temperature tolerances.


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

[Leafmite]

Living here in Ohio, I have been surprised by what does well in colder temperatures and what does not. A Bird of Paradise lived until February one warmer winter (temps were in the upper twenties F some nights). A tropical Vanda was accidentally left out in freezing temps and was fine. Dendrobium kingianum turned to mush at 38'F. The hardy fig trees suffered cold damage in the low 40's (really?). Like Ray says, plants do their own thing, based on their genetics and how they have been previously grown. I find that the plants that come from colder climates that haven't been babied will withstand colder temperatures (the Bird of Paradise was grown from seed, the Vanda was tiny when I first bought it) but the plants I get from the warmer climates, even if they are 'Hardy' don't always turn out to be hardy. If you are getting a younger plant that is far from maturity, it usually has a much better chance of acclimating. Sometimes, though, a plant just will never adapt, probably due to genetics.

[Fairorchids]

Same experience with day lilies. Plants from FL & CA might not live through the first NJ winter. On the other hand, if they get through the first one, then there are no problems after they have become used to our climate.

[Jackie26085]

Ray, first in the part of California where we live it never goes below 32 so frost is rarely an issue. Second, I plan to remove the burlap and give the vandas full sun. My balcony faces south and east so in the summer the sun hits my balcony from morning till after 3 pm.

[tarev]

My Vanda coerulea has endured brief periods of 21F here in our location during winter. Just have to keep it dry. At the most our winter temps hover in the low 50's to low 60's. Though I really do not mind if it rains at that time, it is too dry here in my inland location, plus plant is hanging not in a container. During summer, I used to have it in part sun/shade, but it does look it is feeling too hot, so now I have it moved under our garden umbrella, to protect it from our Central Valley Heat. You will definitely have better temps there in the Bay Area compared to my Central Valley location, you have more coastal breeze there. I still am hoping to make it bloom, right now under the umbrella in summer, it has been improving, a new leaf has formed nicely, and the new root is growing very well too! I placed it in a glass vase with some water below, not touching the roots. It is too dry here, got to find something to provide humidty, so far it seems to work now. Hope rekindled!!!