Recent Orchid Freezes - Survivors?

[epiphyte]

Thought it might be educational to start a thread where people from Florida could share lists of their orchids that survived the cold. Sharing lists of the survivors can be helpful for people looking to replace their orchids that did not survive the cold. If every year cold-tender orchids were replaced with eurythermal orchids then the percentage of orchids that survived cold spells would be greater each year...aka survival of the fittest. Eventually, more and more orchids could be grown outdoors more and more north.

If you are not in Florida but your orchids survived some significant cold then feel free to share your lists as well. Here in So Cal it didn't get too cold but here's a great article on some Cattleya alliance orchids that survived frost and here's a photo of Miltonia flavescens covered in snow.

Maybe as demand for eurythermal orchids increase the supply side will respond accordingly. Speaking of which, anybody ever see this article... Researchers Develop Cold-Resistant Orchid...written in 1983? I've never seen an Enduracold orchid so maybe the crosses didn't pan out? I'm guessing the Georgia orchid used in the cross was Epidendrum conopseum...the northernmost occurring epiphytic orchid in North America.

[epiphyte]

My friend in Italy recently shared this really neat photo...you can click on it to see a larger version.

Vanda coerulea in snow

[Marci in SoFL]

That's a chillingly beautiful photo. Did the plant survive? I'm not going to be of much help in answering your post above as I hauled most of my plants indoors during each of the many cold nights we endured in South Florida. Those that remained outdoors were Dendrobium anosmum which not only survived but are currently in bud and a Schomburgkia tibicinis, too large to move, and thus far appears to have made it through unscathed.

[epiphyte]

It survived no problem. My friend has had it outdoors since 2005 and it has endured several freezes.

A while back GraphicGreg also mentioned Dendrobium anosmum surviving some cold, which I was surprised to hear because as far as I know it's a lowland tropical. Perhaps because it rests during winter...aka hibernation...it's better able to withstand the cold. Schomburgkia tibicinis is another lowland tropical but it's been included on several outdoor grow lists. Not exactly sure why or how it's able to withstand some cold temps.

Thanks for sharing your supporting evidence for those two species.

[Marci in SoFL]

Perhaps I should have added that I keep the anosmum's dry all winter except for occasional rain. The Schomburgkia was dry during cold spells and was well protected from winds on a wall and facing another wall.