Dear Dan and OGD's, Here in Key West, Florida I have had success with Cymbidium aloifolium, Cym dayanum and Cym finlaysonianum . I grow them outside in slat baskets with a coarse bark, expanded shalerock and charcoal; mix. They get full sun. I water almost everyday through the spring, summer and fall with a 2 to 3 day watering schedule through the winter. I fertilize them year round. Any hybrids of these three would grow and flower well. Start adding other species to the three and your chances for warmth tolerance decreases. I have had no luck with any of Milton Carpenter's warmth tolerant erect blooming lines. Even the supposed most warmth tolerant yellow one, name passes me by, Cym Golden? Anyway when you see how Milton grows them you know why he can do it. He has swamp coolers that line all of one side of his greenhouse and the humidity stays jungle high. Down in Key West, growing outside with the dry ocean breezes, I would be watering 5 times a day. WE are definately a semi arid desert down here, moreso than mainland Florida. A few of my orchids have begun to spike out! It is great to see them as they were all submerged in salt water for a few hours back when Hurricane Wilma came through here. Schomburgkia moyobambe, a few Paph crosses, Bulbophyllum ruffinum, Caularthron bicornutum and Encyclia thienii are all going to bloom soon. I am so happy as it has been a bleak winter with my orchids with no blooms for Christmas and New Years. Plants that have religiously bloomed for me in the past [My Rhnchostylis gigantea that I got from Fred Fuchs 25 years ago included], gave a bye this year due to the 4 hurricanes they suffered through. Jay Pfahl www.orchidspecies.com The Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia 5564 species in 593 genera We will have more than 6000 in 600 this year! Keep sending those photos!
_______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
