Does L. anceps need cold to bloom?
 

I've been reading about L. anceps, and its frequently mentioned that it is a cold-hardy orchid that does well outside in places like southern California.

I've also read that it needs cool nighttime temps in winter to initiate flowering. I live on Oahu and grow Cattleyas outdoors, with fairly constant warm temps yearround, so I'm wondering if L. anceps could bloom here.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Check with the various vendors in HI to see if they sell it. If they do contact them to see if you can bloom it in Honolulu.

Brooke

According to Charles Bakers notes it does grow in fairly cool locations wit a good diurnal range at night and a cool dry winter. But he does mention that where that isn't possible, they thrive in the strong cool, moist airflow from an evaporative cooler. Also that some growers report they have survived 100F summer days.

But as Brooke says, some local growers should have a good idea if it can bloom there.

It's often not cool temperatures per se, rather the drop between day and night temperatures that is the trigger for bloom production. I suspect that you could grow anceps in your conditions; bear in mind though that during the period the plant is setting bud, until the buds open, consistently cool day and night temps are beneficial to both bloom quality and successful blooming. Day temps above the mid 60's can cause buds to blast. If you are unable to reliably bloom out standard cymbidiums in your range, anceps will most likely be a challenge as well.
Just my $.02,
Adam

I grow anceps...outside in the summer and under lights in the house during winter. I've only had my anceps about 2yrs...last winter was it's first bloom and being so young it only had a couple of flowers...but it did bloom nicely.

FWIW - My lowest temps in the winter are 58 at night and low 70's during the day. These are not sustained temps...just the lowest my temps tend to be during the winter.

A fan blowing across the area where you are growing them will drop the temp enough to bloom them. As the air blows across the grow area add a little mist and the temps could drop 10-15 degrees even with your higher humidity. Try misting it for a few hrs at night. Not a mist but more on the order of a fog. That way you won't risk fungal attack.

Your anceps should do just fine. The temps get down into the low 50's for enough time to set blooms.

I live in coastal SoCal where the temps stay pretty much the same during late summer and my 2 Anceps flowers just fine. Day to night is about 5-7 degrees. 72* during the day and 65* at night.

Thanks everyone for your input! I just bought a plant of Lc. Santa Barbara Sunset, which has mostly anceps in its parentage, so we'll see how it does.

That's a gorgeous hybrid and I hope you do well with it.