Zone 10 Orchids
Orchids are beautiful and exotic flowers but for most people they are strictly indoor plants.
Zone 10 orchids. Epiphytic orchids there are more than 300000 species of orchids. After 1 2 more weeks move the orchid into an area where it receives sun before 10 am and after. By spring i was rather disgusted because i hadnt seen any blooms and readily sold it. Orchid potting media should be open with exceptionally good drainage yet capable of holding sufficient moisture to support the plants needs.
White egret orchid is also known as habenaria radiata. White egret orchid pecteilis radiata hardy to usda zone 6 is a slow growing orchid that produces grassy leaves and white bird like flowers during the summerthis orchid likes cool moderately moist well draining soil and either full sun or partial shade. Expose potted orchids to sunlight gradually. Orchids roots and eventually the entire plant will die if they do not get air and this is the reason that with the exception of a few terrestrial varieties orchids do not grow in soil.
But there are some zone 9 orchids that you can get away with growing in your garden to add that tropical feel. Several years ago i bought an orchid plant in the fall for a couple of dollars at a bargain sale. My shadehouse is located in full sun under 50 shade cloth. This orchid produces sprays of small yellow green flowers in early spring and is hardy in usda zones 7 through 9.
Then after a week move your orchid into an area with 3 4 hours of morning and evening sun. Some orchids have been known to grow and even bloom for years without fertilizer but a minimal yet consistent weekly feeding will give your plant the nutrients it needs to thrive. These delicate air plants were mostly built for the tropics and dont tolerate cold weather or freezes. Start with 1 2 hours of morning and evening sun a day.
Maybe only an orchid hobbyist will fully appreciate this but this is what happened to me. You will find as many suggestions as there are growers however and this is true for any zone while some swear by full sun i only have certain orchids in full sun epi radicans certain dends most get a lot of light very bright diffused light. Everybody knows and loves the exotic tropical orchids eg phalaenopsis and cattleya but wouldnt it be nice to have an orchid that lives outside in temperate zonesit might surprise you to know that there are many beautiful terrestrial orchids for temperate zones 5 9 that are actually very easy to grow such as bletilla and calanthe. Potted orchids should be allowed to acclimate to the sun.
It grew nicely and developed several leaves each with a sheath. Calanthe orchids calanthe spp are hardy easy to grow orchids and many of. Moth orchids genus name phalaenopsis are probably what you think of when somebody says the word orchid. These have large butterfly like petals and bloom from winter until late spring.
Growing orchids in florida is fun.