Ascocenda Yarnisa Gold 'Pure Gold'

This plant typically blooms two or three times each year.  I have had it bloom both in the summer and in the winter.  The bloom in the picture is in January 2010.  The plant is not a very large plant yet, but still blooms well.  It requires typical Vanda type care and has done well with temperatures down to the low 50's.

Rhynchostylis Gigantea

I have six Rhynchostylis orchids that I purchased at the WOC two years ago.  The plants were one year old seedlings when I purchased them.  The picture here is the first time any of them bloomed in January 2010.  I also had a white one bloom.  Both blooms were weak, which I do not think is unusual for a plant this young and small.  The plant, which you cannot see in the picture, is only about two inches high and three inches wide.  Do you have one of this species?  What has been your experience with this plant?

This species typically blooms in December, January, or Februrary in South Florida.  It is easy to care for if you understand the care for Vandas since one cares for it much like a Vanda.  However, there is one big difference.  I would not recommend putting this plant in a wooden basket.  It does better in a plastic basket because the roots are very susceptible to rot.  The roots need to dry FAST and thoroughly.  The wooden basket will tend to hold water close to the roots for too long of a period.  Although, I have been successful with this plant in a wooden basket,  I need to make sure that if it is in a wooden basket that it gets constant air movement, especially in the morning after it is watered. 

COLD WEATHER AND ORCHIDS

So how did your orchids do during our very long streak of cold weather here in South Florida?

What has been your experience?

Since I grow outside without any greenhouse or shadehouse cold weather is always a worry.  My most sensitive orchids ---- hard cane dendrobiums, phals, and vandas ----- I protect by bringing them into my garage.  It did not get any lower than 55 in the garage. 

All of the Vandas did great! And also the Phals.

The hard cane dendrobiums have experienced the dropping of leaves ----- but not very bad.  Oddly enough, I accidentally left three of the hard cane dendrobiums outside and they experienced temps as low as 34 and they have not experienced any leaf drop.  They seem to have done better than the ones in the garage.  I cannot figure that one out?

All of my cattyleas and encyclias stayed outside.  A few yellow leaves on some of the cattyleas, but all of the encyclias just loved it.

Now the strangest.  Den aggregatum is supposed to like the cold weather.  I have five of these plants ---- two seedlings, two mature plants, and one that is sort of in between.  The seedlings did great, so did the in between one and one of the mature plants.  But one of the mature plants simply did not like the cold.  About half of the leaves turned yellow, shrivelled up, and fell off of the plant.  Has anyone else had this experience?

Grammatophyllums -- Cold Weather - Know your Plant

My last post was about orchids and cold weather.  Well, we have had plenty of that these past few days in South Florida.  Those Callistas are just LOVING IT.

Remember how I said that you have to know your plant?  An example is Grammatophyllums.  I have had both G Scriptum and G Tigers Paw.  These plants typlically grow in warm areas of the world.  Day temps average in the mid 80s and night temps average in the mid 70's.  However, I have not had any problem with these orchids when the temperature goes lower, even into the forties  ---- however, I do not know about the 30's which we might see tonight  ----- maybe you should protect them if you can.

My experience has been that there is one thing that they definitely do not like.  They do not like being WET and COLD at the same time.  And the longer they are wet and cold the less they like it..  This is usually not much of problem in South Florida because when it is cold here it is also usually dry.  However, this weekend we are having rain and cold.  I suggest you try to keep your Grammatophyllums dry and warm.

If it has rained overnight on your Grammatophyllum, get it some place where it is above 60 degrees and dry.  Keep it dry until it drys completely.  I actually water my Grammatophyllum very little during the winter months.  From October through February, I water once every two weeks.  I also try to water on days that are above 70 degrees.

Be warned.  I have found that nothing will kill a Grammatophyllum faster than being cold and wet repeatedly or for long periods of time.