Orchids for a south facing terrace in full Mediterranean sun - Orchid Board

ChrisMalaga · #1 02-20-2021, 04:01 AM

I have a huge terrace which is also partially the roof of my house. It is south facing and receives sun all day, with no shade at all.
Sun in summer is really strong and I have had issues even with some cactuses (yellowing, slight burns...).

It's not a place where I would normally grow orchids, it would definitely burn any Vanda or Cattleya, until I gave it a try with an Epidendrum (which I think could be radicans, or ibaguense) that a friend who was moving gave me 4 years ago. He was growing it in common potting soil in full sun, so I gave it the same conditions (adding some perlite and bark to the substrate). In summer it gets purplish, but has thrived so much and at least tripled its size, it is also blooming for the most part of the year and gave me lots of keikis, so my terrace is becoming an Epidendrum terrace.

I would like to add some variety and try some more orchids that could resist these conditions. Malaga has mild winters (I have never recorded minumum temperatures below 7-8 degrees C in my terrace and maximum temperatures in winter in full sun are in the 20s C), I would say similar to LA or Sydney.

Some orchids I'm willing to try:
- Dendrobium speciosum (I got this recently)
- Laelia purpurata (I read it's quite common in Australia in full sun, I have ordered this a few days ago)
- Schlomburgkia tibicinis (I have a division)
- I also have a Vanda teres that I think I could try to acclimatize, but I'm not 100% sure.

I have also seen right now a post with some pictures of a Cymbidium canaliculatum and it looks promising, so maybe I should try this one too.

I also have some Brassocattleyas that do well with some hours of morning sun, but got burnt a bit in summer, so not on that terrace.

Any other orchids that I could try that can stand such conditions?

DirtyCoconuts · #2 02-20-2021, 08:50 AM

First o would try to either use a cloth or larger plants to help reduce the sun. That said

Myrmicrophelia / schomburgkia
Terete and semi terete vandas
Epidendrums
Arachnis

I grow all of these in full south Florida sun

estación seca · #3 02-20-2021, 11:32 AM

The big red Renantheras flower best with full sun. Terete Vandas will he fine in summer. I don't know about 7-8C at night for them. You could try Brassavola nodosa and similar species. Grammatophyllum. Many Catasetinae like bright sun. Eulophia petersii tolerates almost full sun in my climate. Arundina. Den. kingianum. A lot of Phrag species grow in full sun with wet roots. Their summer nights are cooler than the days. Cyrtopodium.

Roberta · #4 02-20-2021, 11:41 AM

L. anceps and relatives (L. autumnalis, L. gouldiana) and hybrids. If you can get your hands on Epi. lacustre, that one wants "full sun and sopping wet". Den speciosum you'll need to give a little shade in the middle of summer. Those hard leaves look like they'll take baking sun, but I have toasted a few... they do need a little protection. Actually, most of the other types also would benefit from some protection - I have also toasted leaves on Catasetinae, found that they need a little bit of shading.

estación seca · #5 02-20-2021, 01:16 PM

You could have pots with spreading shrubs or palms to provide some shade.

ChrisMalaga · #6 02-20-2021, 01:23 PM

Thanks for your suggestions! Some are really interesting, I have put some of these in my wishlist (Arachnis, Grammatophyllum speciosum and scriptum, Eulophia petersii). L. anceps has been on my wishlist too but a friend here grows it under a shade cloth, maybe it can be pushed more.

Yes, I should give some protection, I will definitely put some shade cloth someday, it requires some work because all the walls around are pretty short, it also takes a good amount of wind, when it's windy.

I have a Renanthera monachica and a Vandopsis parishii, do you think these two could be acclimatized to full sun?

---------- Post added at 07:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:20 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca

A lot of Phrag species grow in full sun with wet roots.

This is definitely interesting. Have you tried some or do you have one to suggest? I'm new to Phrags and ordered a hybrid of kovachii x shlimii but I think this one is not made for full sun here, actually I don't even know if it will find my shade too warm...

Roberta · #7 02-20-2021, 01:26 PM

I grow my L. anceps in pretty much full sun... I have very light shade cloth over the area, but in summer that area gets full sun essentially all day - no shade from trees, yard has east-west orientation. I have burned leaves on almost all other types at one time or another, but these are incredibly tough. One note on that... they have been growing in that bright light their entire lives. Any that have been growing shadier do need to be acclimated gradually. Actually, this is a good time of year to think about it... in the northern hemisphere, sun angle is still fairly low though it's moving fast. Once we reach the equinox, intensity can jump abruptly as the sun suddenly clears houses, trees, etc.

I think that's too bright for Phrags. In nature they may be exposed, but get considerable cloud cover especially in summer. A Mediterranean climate has much harsher sun in summer... I can't speak to the conditions that ChrisMalaga has, but I know what it's like at my house and I would not try to grow Phrags unprotected. IF kept damp, I don't think that heat will harm the Phrags, as long as there is also shade.

ChrisMalaga · #8 02-20-2021, 01:46 PM

Yes, I also think that considering that even some cactuses get yellowish in summer, it could be too much for a Phrag. Right now, I managed to burn some leaves of my Brassanthe Maikai, and it's February and many days were slightly cloudy. The first week it was ok, then one day it got more sun and...
The leaves that got burnt are only the oldest, maybe I should give a second try, I'm scared though.

DirtyCoconuts · #9 02-20-2021, 02:34 PM

I grow arundinia (sp) bamboo orchid in full fun as well as the “nuns” orchid.

Roberta · #10 02-20-2021, 02:46 PM

Be cautious if you can't provide some shade... With a gradual increase of sun, you can get away with more but there still are limits. When I first moved to my house, I was giving the L. anceps and Cymbidiums no shade at all... L. anceps were fine but the Cyms were really yellow. Adding about 40% shadecloth (barely there) made a big difference. Eulophia petersii is fine in full sun, it's mostly a desert plant. (Note that is leaves are vertical... an adaption that protects from the sun by reducing surface area) But most other orchids really do need to have something to "take the edge off" the mid-day sun. That is especially the case as summer approaches and you get many more hours of that blazing sun.

Another group that can take very intense sun are the rupiculous Laelias... again assuming that they have a chance to acclimate. Their native habitat is pretty brutal.

---------- Post added at 11:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:39 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

I grow arundinia (sp) bamboo orchid in full fun as well as the “nuns” orchid.

Arundina (and Phaius) I wonder about in winter... I think it gets on the chilly side where the OP lives. On the other hand, maybe... I can grow Phaius if I keep it wet enough. Arundina I have tried and failed, but I have a friend who lives nearby, also coastal, who has been successful with one of those little plants that he got in Honolulu airport... he saw it growing at fairly high elevation in Hawai'i, and it is doing nicely on his patio - in full sun - so it's possible... It is so much fun finding out what one can get away with!