Pleurothallids in Florida?
 

I grow some cool-growing species and hybrids successfully her in SC using a
swamp cooler in my greenhouse. I use 50% shade over all of the greenhouse
with a 2nd layer of 50% shade over half of it nearest the cooling pads.
There are days when it barely keeps the temp more than a few degrees below
ambient outdoor temps, but most days there's a significant cooling factor
(at least keeping it in the low to mid 80's). On those rare drier days, it
gets positively "frigid" in the 60's to 70's. I have some odontoglossums, a
bunch of cymbidiums, a pleurothallid and a few other cool growing species
very tolerant of these conditions.
Gary
"Ray Lloyd" wrote in message
...
I am in the process of getting a proper greenhouse built. I know that
pleurothallids need lots of shade, high humidity and fairly cool temps
(most
should not exceed 80 degrees F. by day and about 60-55 degrees F. at
night).
I plan to use double layers of shadecloth, an evaporative cooler (ie.
Hydrofogger or something similar) and ventilation. Does anyone here on the
newsgroup have any experience growing these in Florida? Our summer temps
are
high, but I am hoping to overcome that with the cooling equipment and will
not even attempt the really cool growers. There are some few that are warm
growing and others that are very to somewhat tolerant of warmth, and these
are the ones I will be attempting. Any other suggestions would be
appreciated.

Ray