SUN 🌞 Lovers orchids? Need recommendations
 

Hi guys!

I need, well, I want a set (3-4 options) of very "spring + summer" sun lovers orchids that could produce stunning flowers.

They will need to be in the range of warm to cold o viceversa since I have a midwinter weather and a very warm summer.

BIG THANKS 💞 in advance!

How about Sobralias? Particularly S. macrantha or any of its hybrids. If they get lots of sun they don't grow too tall, the foliage is rather attractive (sort of like bamboo) and they are fine with winter temperatures near freezing. Flowers only last a few days, but they keep producing new ones from the same growths, so a well-established plant is in bloom for nearly two months during the summer.

There is also the bamboo orchid Arundina graminifolia. I don't think it would become invasive in a Mediterranean climate, since it needs summer water.

Neobenthamia gracilis according to IOSPE grows in the tropics at 380-2000 meters so should take your winters without problems. Stephen (isurus79) grows it outdoors in Texas so it takes heat and sun.

And you might be able to grow Cymbidiums in the ground.

Getting Arundina graminifolia to be happy through winter could be a challenge. I have tried and failed... though my outdoor-growing friend down the coast has managed to get one of those little cuttings from Honolulu airport to turn into a beautiful patio plant.

Neobenthamia gracilis is a good one! And fragrant.

cyms in the ground depends on the ground... needs to be well drained, so works with sandy soils. I know that I can't.. my soil is better for building houses than growing things, heavy clay. So they grow outside with no problem at all, but need pots to handle the drainage issue. However, Cyms don't answer the need of summer blooming, though... wonderful to brighten up the winter and early spring.

I know nothing about cold so please cross regency anything i say with cold care

Terete vandas. Papilonanthe. Semi terete vandas. X2 on neo gracilis. I growing in full sun. Arachnis Maggie oei. Renanthera red dragon. Dendrobium speciosum. Den gatton sunray.

That’s all I can think of that I grow in full sun. Oh and the cyms. Golden elf is in full sun and so is max tenefulia

Max tenuifolia might fit the bill, if you don't already have one. They love full sun providing you water the heck out of them.

There are many Cyrtopodiums that fit this description.

You're pretty far north, so I bet Laelia anceps, Cattleya purpurata, and Cattleya intermedia would also work.

L anceps certainly would work but mostly late fall/winter bloomers. C (L) purpurata should work well and gorgeous flowers... and if acclimated are fine through winter to near freezing temperatures. (They do fine outside all year for me) C intermedia also a great idea. (Also very cold-tolerant) I have been pleasantly surprised by C. labiata - I had always thought of it as needing warmth, was assured by Steve Champlain (Florlia) that they can tolerate cold and experience it in habitat... and they do well for me outside too (a bit of overhead protection but ambient temperatures)

How many days does the temperature go over 40C? What is the humidity then? During that time how cool are the nights? Is there steady wind on hot days or is the air still?

Phal. Little One ... don't be fooled by the genus "Phalaenopsis" ... it is a primary hybrid of Hygrochilus parishii (now Phal. hygrochila) and Sedirea japonica (now Phal. japonica) Both parents are very cold-tolerant and reclassifying them "Phalaenopsis" doesn't change their actual culture. The hybrid is easier to grow than the parents (and both are pretty easy too), can bloom twice a year, and is fragrant. And a fairly small plant. So it looks like a Vanda, named Phalaenosis, and grows very nicely on my patio with chilly winter nights and summer heat. But it will need a bit of shading against the summer noonday sun so might not fill the need.

Ohh I LOVE It!!!!
Going to hunt It...

---------- Post added at 09:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:21 PM ----------

Great Thks ES. Love the Bamboo choice.
I have something similar to Neobenthamia..but purple.
No need to be on the ground ..just that could get full sun

---------- Post added at 09:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 PM ----------

I have one actually 😃, you already know my taste, though. But not in full sun, and not much room in the house for it in winter, since as far as I know shouldn't get below 14°. Only flower in spring ..and is getting bigger and bigger. I love it though.

Do you think it could handle the Winter out door ????

I grow Max tenuifolia outside. So if acclimated, I think that it should handle low temperatures close to freezing. It isn't full sun though, still it benefits from rather bright light.

Have a Cat Purpurata and other few, but freak me out to let her outdoor in winter. I'll ask my fav vendor what is available in the Leila's and Cats range, wish are definitely my favorite big flower orchids. However, I am telling you ..as soon as is below 10°... I have panic attacks and end up moving them indoor.

But mainly, what I need is a full SUN 😎 acceptance!

Thks Steve

Full sun does limit choices a bit... And season. (As for temperature, I joke with Ivan Portilla of Ecuagenera whenever I see him at a show with C. puruprata labeled "I/W" I say, "Please don't tell MY plants"! Mine are quite happy outside, and don't even get overhead protection from rain. But they don't get full sun... 60% shade cloth over them) L. anceps and Cymbidiums will certainly manage both cold and full sun, but are not summer bloomers. Look for those Sobralias...

Another one that is fine with full sun (in fact, needs it to bloom well) is Oerstidella schweinfurthiana . Great color, long blooming.

Here we go ... Humidity is high all year around; winter 60% - summer 80%. But my setup has a great breeze - ventilation and I have automatic irrigation and water mysting system.

https://i.imgur.com/O1mnabT.png

Your climate looks very similar to mine. Just a little warmer in summer but not much. You have much higher humidity.(Good for the orchids, I have to water a lot) Winter looks pretty much like mine. So you very likely can grow the same things outside that I do.

I have both!!!
But Roberta, these 2 in full sun are impossible. Actually I have a leave burn in the Sedirea japonica just for a 1 day window ray of light... Beside both growing super slow for me.

---------- Post added at 10:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 PM ----------


Ok! I think we discussed that in the past, but I thought you didn't get below 10°. Saying that, do you suggest to take out my Catts now that I don't have that much rain, but still 7-8° at least 1 hour at night.

This could limited flower production for the spring bloomers?

There is no emergency...I just want to get out and not using more lighting. During the day is stunning 😍 right now.

Ya, but remember she's at the same latitude as New York City, so the sun is not very strong. Coupled with the mild summer temps, I think that opens up a lot more possibilities than so many other places!

I have had s few nights of winter temperatures down to 3 or 4 deg C (35-36 deg F) Days are warmer though... I consider a high of 14 deg C (58 deg F) cold... so that is another factor if it doesn't warm up during the day to compensate for cold nights. Also less rain... It rained quite a lot for about 2 weeks in December, there has been essentially nothing since. ("Rain" comes from a hose or sprinkler where I live) Quite a few days with humidity of 20% or occasionally less. So my orchids are pretty tough.

I will thanks a lot!!!
In "winter only' Cymbs and Dend Nobile and are in full sun.

---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 PM ----------

So, I should risk a bit more and try to setting up a year-round outdoor choices ?

Los Angeles (I live a bit south of it) is at 34 deg N. So indeed, I do get pretty intense sun (and "full sun" is pretty toasty) . So perhaps not as much of a problem for Sade. Still, there are other factors such as shading from trees - or not , but also reflection from white buildings, that are hyper-local.

No, I'm thinking of where Sade lives! Much farther north than either you or me.

---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:56 PM ----------

I certainly would! Does it ever get below freezing for you?

. I haven't been in Spain, but have been in Greece (similar latitude) and summer sun is pretty intense. But true that it is likely not as rough on the orchids as my summer sun or yours.

Nop ... hardly... Very rare. Some hailstorm but I have a shade that protect and with different % of lighting opacity.

The gulf stream keeps Europe a lot warmer than the latitude would indicate. (Hope that climate change doesn't mess THAT up...) Actually, the California current keeps my neighborhood a lot cooler than latitude would predict.

Exactly! Most people don't understand that Boston and Rome are at the same latitude!

By the way ..all Catts outdoor!

https://i.imgur.com/28R54hX.jpg