Which orchids can I grow outside year-round in Tampa, FL?

[Tim C.]

So I just found out I'll be moving to Tampa, Florida, in June, and I'm curious as to what orchids I can choose from to grow outside. I don't know what amount of light I'll be able to give, so I'm looking at all types.

What do you Florida orchid growers grow outside year-round? SBOE (Santa Barbara Orchid Estate) has a list of temperature tolerant orchids, and they've got a nice selection, but I'm wondering what else is out there, especially looking for input from people in or near Tampa, since you all are the ones with the experience.

I won't have a greenhouse, and I'll be growing on our lanai (if I spelled that right), which is huge, so size isn't of a concern.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

-Tim C.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Hi there,

I live in Miami, which tends can be substantially hotter than Tampa. I grow everything outside. However, I don't have cool-growing orchids.

Tampa gets cold during the winter--so if you grow orchids outside--be prepared to protect them from the cold somehow or bring them inside.

Otherwise, pretty much everything can grow outside.

[grlhiggins]

I am in Palm harbor and have been growing on my lanai for a few years with and without success...
what I found that does awesome in the hot Florida sun are epinendrums..

in the shaded area dens, vandas, phals and catts are doing well....

But am right now loving those epinedrums wth all the wonderful blooms.

[slpjennifer]

I have phals, dendrobiums, vandas, a paphiopedilum, oncidium, epinendrums, and cattleya. all are very happy and healthy, and outside. They are even in salt air. Some in key largo some miami beach. Our weather is great for orchid growing. The epinendrums are the only ones that get direct light. Other than that keep it bright and indirect. I poke a pencil tip in every couple of days to see if they need water, usually they get watered 2x a week except the vandas which I drench every day and all get a light misting (dont want the salt air to over dry them )

[Angurek]

Welcome to Tampa in advance!

I have a mixed collection of warm and intermediate growers, and all my plants seem to appreciate the weather as much as I do. However, Tampa isn't quite as tropical as are the cities in South Florida; we get cold fronts occasionally, and the winter temperatures can dip into the 30s and 40s. As long as you protect your plants during cold spells, though, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. I move my plants indoors during cold snaps and put them back outside when the temperatures even out.

I probably wouldn't recommend cool growers down here, unless you have a greenhouse or enclosure where you can control the temperature. The summer heat would probably cause them more harm than good. Otherwise, everything else will grow and bloom very well here.

As for orchids that can grow year-round, well, I'll have to look into it. If a plant is to grow year-round in Tampa, it must be tolerant of a wide temperature range (very warm weather during the summer and cooler weather in the winter).

[orchideric]

Dear Tim,

Nobile Dendrobiums and Phaius tankervilleae are the only 2 I would swear to on a year to year a basis. Join one of the 3 local socieities when you relocate and ask questions. The problem is only 1/2 the winter cold - we have a long drought period (right now) and the low humidity will trash a lot of orchids outside a greenhouse.

Hope that helps, Eric

[cb977]

Hi Tim

I live about 40 miles north of Tampa and sometimes get a little chillier than the areas further south of me.

I grow many of my orchids on the lanai (yes, you spelled it correctly ) and only make an effort at protecting them from the cold when the temps are going below 50. Before my collection "expanded" I was able to put all the chids in one corner of the lanai, up against the house on those chilly nights. We would use our hurricane shutters to create a protected area there but you could easily do it by hanging a tarp or two when necessary.

You'll love living in Florida...and growing orchids! It's a great combo

Make sure you put Louis Del Favero Orchids on your list of neighborhood must-sees

[Nokomis.FL]

Originally Posted by cb977

Make sure you put Louis Del Favero Orchids on your list of neighborhood must-sees

Seconded

Do you know what part of Tampa you'll be in? Near MacDill, maybe?

[Tim C.]

I'll be in New Tampa, specifically the 33647 zip code, not far from interstate 75.

Looking forward to getting down there and checking out all the greenhouses, orchid or not.

-Tim

[Nokomis.FL]

Just wondering if you've made the move. If so, have you started a collection yet?