Growing Phals & Cats

[Uncle_vito]

I live in So Cal and am familiar with growing cymbidiums. They grow fine outside with just fertilizer and water.

I want to learn to grow phals and catleyas and realize they need a more humid and possibly warmer environment.

A) I can grow them outside during most of the year and have them get plenty of heat and light. Humidity is low however.

B) I can grow them in the house, in their own room. I can humidify the room and control the temperature, but sufficient light is lacking. An electric grow light could be used to provide the light and it would be on a timer..

Would I be successful with A or do I really need B. If I do B, how well does the artificial light work.

An outdoor greenhouse is not really a possibility as I have shade trees all over my yard and it is hard to find spots with sufficient sunlight.

Thanks for replies. This is a great hobby and keeps my out of the bars.

Vito

[K Barrett]

Uncle Vito, is there any way you can take a nice weekend drive up the coast to Santa Barbara and see how the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate grows their Laelia purpuratas outdoors under shade cloth only? Included in this group would also be Laelia tenebrosa, a gorgeous flower and one of my favotites. Also there are any number of Laelia anceps that grow outdoors, too. The reason why I say you should see it is becasue there's no substitute for a good look around up there. The place is phenomenal.

If, however that's just too far to go, Andy's Orchids (ack I forget where they are located, but in the greater northern San Diego area) may be closer to you. He too grows outside. (most of his orchids are mounted, and may be a bit difficult to grow.... I should say I have a hard time with them). Again, the ability to talk with some of the growers/workers is what's needed to see how they tweak their growing conditions.

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, for example, has started growing their purpuratas mounted or in 1 gallon pots filled with a scant amount of granite gravel (like what you infill around drainage pipes with.) I mean *what?!* Where'd *that* idea come from??? But I've tried it too with some success, and as long as the plants are where a mister comes on they have even grown in my conditions..... so if at all possible go and look. So just like with your cymbidiums, a bit of shade, a bit of moisture from overhead mister (like what they use at Home Depot to cool the doorways sometimes (have you ever hseen them do that?) and some of these beauties can be grown outdoors too.

You may be able to grow Lycastes out there in teh dappled shade.... There was a woand here who grew the most wonderful lycastes out in her yard, under the trees, where the sprinklers hit them (in teak baskets) with granular pelleted fertilizer (Dynamite or something similar) as fertilizer.. Of course you have to rememebr you'll kill a few plants untill you figure it out, but I'd be tempted to try.

The Santa Barbara Orchid Estate page used to have a list of hardy orchids that could be grown outside but I couldn't find it on their page anymore.... blast. Nevertheless I found this one:

I live in N Calif, near Walnut Creek. We've been trying to involve our society in finding little niches where orchids can be grown outside without a greenhouse. Greenhouses can be a real expense to maintain. If you've been following the thread on heating a GH in winter you'll see what I mean. We here in Calif are blessed with marvelous weather, and many orchids will be happy to find a home if we can pick the right one for the right spot. And that's the trick. But be willing to kill a few in the learning! I should show you my 4" pot crammed full with name tags of orchids I've killed in learning how/what I can grow. Remember, its the learning that keeps Alzheimer's at bay.

I hope this helps.

K Barrett

[Uncle_vito]

Thanks for the reply. I have been to SBOE sever times. One of my favorite places. I have not closely observed where the Laelia tenebrosa grow. I have only recently been involved with Phals and Cats. In the past I was looking at the cymbidiums. I will be more observant next time I go. I do know that the SBOE does have many greenhouses. SBOE is blessed with being near the ocean with hi morning moisture and cool breazes.

I live in Walnut in So Cal. My uncle used to live in Walnut Creek and we both have similar climates. Hot and dry winds can be present and I know to watch out for those.

Thanks for letting me know your luck about growing outside. I am encouraged to keep it up outside.

Vito