Neobenthamia gracilis (The graceful Neobenthamia)

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by brianwstephens

I know that this is a very old post, but I just got one of these and I'm wondering how cold tolerant they are. I live in the Bay Area and since they apparently love sun I was hoping to grow it outdoors.

I have one that I grew in the greenhouse for a number of years, that didn't do much. Then found out from a friend who also lives near the coast, just a bit south of me, that his does very well outside. I moved mine out last summer, it was out all winter, and is growing much better than it did in the GH. It's in a somewhat protected area, but winter lows are typically low 40's F with occasional nights that are lower. So... It seems to be a lot more cold-tolerant than it is given credit for.

[brianwstephens]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I have one that I grew in the greenhouse for a number of years, that didn't do much. Then found out from a friend who also lives near the coast, just a bit south of me, that his does very well outside. I moved mine out last summer, it was out all winter, and is growing much better than it did in the GH. It's in a somewhat protected area, but winter lows are typically low 40's F with occasional nights that are lower. So... It seems to be a lot more cold-tolerant than it is given credit for.

Wow that's great okay. It sounds like we have very similar weather I think I'm in 10b. I'm going to try a keiki outside and see how it does!

---------- Post added at 09:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 AM ----------

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

i am starting to water it more...for the first bloom period i had been letting her only get rain water but this season has been drier and the plant is less vigorous so i have recently started watering it in the morning...fully soaking the pot as i water my other non-orchids and the soil is barely moist at all by night


i also have a large driftwood tree in the same pot with a terete vanda and some tillys so it is "leave it alone" pot and i sometimes forget about it. now that i am including it in the morning watering i expect it will be happier

So you're giving it daily water?
All the keikis and aerial roots make it seem like it would like that...