Truly cold tolerant?

[chelsea dorchester]

I no longer use my portable greenhouse due to numerous moves. I searched for cold tolerant orchids that can grow in a shady back yard in inland (not coastal) southern California.

I purchased L. anceps at Cal-Orchids in Santa Barbara and two blue vandas. They barely grew in 2.5 years.

Are hybrids of L. anceps and L. intermediate cold hardly?

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate's website has description of cold tolerant orchids. Meaning they survived a cold spell in Santa Barbara. However, which orchids can tolerate 40's and upper 30's all winter long? I purchased lots of cymbidiums believing they could. However, my minature cymbidiums didn't grow much either in the past 2.5 years. My standard cymbidiums did grow.

Reedstem epis bloom most of the year but mine are not blooming.

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate's website describes a few oncidium species that are cold tolerant. Are hybrids, such as Gower Ramsey, cold tolerant? How about oncidium intergenerics such as wilsonia and bellaria?

Cymbidiums are known to be cold tolerant. Their blooming season is fall, winter and early spring. However, can they bloom in four months of winter low temperatures in the mid 40's? Or will the spikes and buds blast in 40's temperatures? If I bring them the cymbidiums inside my house after they start spiking, will the flowers fully develop without supplemental lighting?

[jean2]

Cymbidiums are considerably more cold tolerant than some other popular orchids. Cymbidiums have been known to briefly withstand freezing temperatures, although frost will kill them. Nights down to 40ºF are fine. On the other side, cymbidiums can also withstand considerably summer heat without wilting, as they are suited to the temperate regions of Asia where there is considerable variation in seasonal and day/night temperatures. During the growing season, cymbidiums appreciate dappled sunlight, or about 50 percent shade. They can be moved outdoors in the summer, providing they are not put into direct sunlight. A few hours of weak morning sunlight and shady afternoons is perfect. Move the cymbidiums outside after the threat of frost has passed. If you're growing them indoors, a southeast or east window is perfect. Your leaves should be apple green, as opposed to dark green. A dark green plant is likely not receiving enough sunlight to provoke a good bloom.

[richardb]

Jean
To get a good set of spikes on Cymbidiums they need a good diurnal change of temperature in early Autumn.
I am in England, and my plants stay in my greenhouse throughout the year. Even though the door and windows remain open constantly from end-March till end October, the daytime heat in mid summer goes up to about 30c, but in the early autumn it drops to 12/14c which seems to do the trick for me. During the winter I do not let the temperature drop below 10c.
Richard

[jean2]

In Northern climates, the best cymbidiums are usually grown in greenhouses. Even if you're climate challenged, you can still grow these orchids. Just remember that plant care is a little different from other orchids. Not difficult, just different. Depending on your climate, plant care for cymbidium orchids can vary from easy to somewhat challenging. Cymbidiums are popular in temperate, sub-tropical climates such as California, where they grow outside year round. The warm, sunny days and cool nights (40-55 degrees) found in this area are perfect for these plants.

[priya87544]

I am in a cold climate as I would call it and I am not even close to cold tolerant. I need the room temperature to always be over 21c or 70f to be comfortable enough. and can cope with 15-16c without a coat outside if the air is still and I am moving enough. Buxton's average temperature is only 8c/46f though.