It is not only the _long_ summer heat [5-6 months of temps in the high 90s
with little nighttime cooling], but also the lack of sustained winter cold,
that makes these unsuitable for south Florida. A _very_ few Odonts
[bictonense and some of its hybrids are the only that I know of] can be
successfully grown and bloomed as far south as Vero [only 60 miles north of
me, but apparently across a "weather line"].

I can _grow_ standard Cyms with huge gorgeous foliage, no problem, but
neither I nor anyone I know gets flowers from them south of Daytona [about
200 miles north of me] more than once every 3-5 years [when we have an
exceptionally cold winter]. And even there, it requires some tinkering --
watering at sunset to give the root system a boost to the night chill ...

A few of my customers are doing "OK" with the most heat-tolerant of
Miltoniopsis, by summering them indoors in the airconditioning from May
through September, and then leaving them out all winter.

I like a lot of these plants, and would like to be able to grow and bloom
them, but I am committed to NOT putting in a cool-house. My customers don't
have them, and I don't want to sell them plants they can't grow and bloom in
their own environments.

But if you have a list of them that you think would actually grow and bloom
down here, I'll keep an eye out for them and try a couple on a small scale.
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids

http://www.jborchids.com
"profpam" wrote in message ...
Some Miltoniopsis, Odontoglossum, and standard Cymbidiums can be grown
in a greenhouse where temps sometimes reach 100. I, however, grow many
standard Cymbidiums outside and temps have reached 110 and 17 degrees.
Cymbidiums are fairly hardy plants as well as bletilla. Just cover the
plants with sheets when temps go below 40 degrees. And, as for
Miltoniopsis and Odontoglossums, find those plants that are temperature
tolerant.

. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html
New 2004 upgrade will be available in the next week or so to registered
users. 300+ culture sheets and pictures on new CD located in the Culture
directory.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Kenni Judd wrote:

I bet you can grow Miltoniopsis, Odontoglossum and standard Cymbidiums,
oo -- as to which I am limited to pictures :(
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids

http://www.jborchids.com
"Eric Hunt" wrote in message
...
Kenni,

Very good point - I've been to South Florida, and believe me, us
Northern
Californians are highly covetous of your ability to throw an orchid
into a
tree and watch it thrive. *smile* But then again, you can't grow
Masdevallias in your back yard like we can here. =)