Sun-Loving orchids - is there such a thing?

[funktified]

Hi All,

I really hate the mid-summer days here in Melbourne (Aus) as it just hurts - not just the skin, my orchids also.

I have about 15 pots of large Amelia Earhart Cyms that I would love to just put out in the garden to just create a green bushy area - however I have to hide them especially in January to avoid sunburns under shade cloth or behind the shaded part of the house.

As some of the leaves have started turning yellow also - I am assuming this is sun related.

Is there such a thing as a Full Sun loving orchid species?

[SurfDudeVb]

Tolumnias do well in very bright light, the leaves start to get a purple hue in very bright light.

[switchblade]

epidendrum radicans can take full sun and lots of neglect. Terrete leafed vandas can take lots of sun as well in jamaica terete, semi-terete as well as the strapped leafed vandacious orchids are grown in fulll sunlight and in gravel or lava rock instead of bare root to keep roots from drying out too fast.

[Ron]

Hi Most of your dark coloured flowering Cymbidiums will take full sun if harden off over early spring.
Their maybe a bit of sunburn but usually it does not worry the plant too much.
Some of the darker yellow, darker pinks etc. do well.
Give them a dose of epsom salts throughout summer helps to keep them green, teaspoon per 10 liters of water every week to 2 weeks will keep them happy.
Best of luck

[Anton]

Australian native terrestrials do well in full sun such as.....wait for it ....... Sun Orchids, the Thelymitras. (pr Thel-ee-mite-rars).

Dendrobiums love a lot of sun, Willowbanks in Qld grows some outside under shadecloth.

[funktified]

Originally Posted by Ron

Hi Most of your dark coloured flowering Cymbidiums will take full sun if harden off over early spring.

What do you mean by "Harden Off", as this sounds like a good option.

Originally Posted by Anton

Australian native terrestrials do well in full sun such as.....wait for it ....... Sun Orchids, the Thelymitras. (pr Thel-ee-mite-rars).

Thats awesome, I'll be googling nurseries that sell/ship Thelymitras tonight.

Thanks switchblade and surfdudevb - I will be looking into those species also. I have always had in my head that all orchids must be shaded.

[Dendian]

I have an Aussie Den that says full sun - its called Den. Gatton Sunray. A member on here has posted a picture of his in bloom (which is why I bought it) and it lives on a stump in the front yard - in full sun.

[Anton]

Les Nesbitt Nursery here in Adelaide is the leading grower of Australian native terrestrials.

[katrina]

I'm guessing your sun is more intense than what I get here in Ohio but my Ansellia africana won't bloom w/out full sun. It sat in full sun from morning until evening and it loved it. It's from Africa and grows in the upper canopies of trees so it gets a LOT of sun in it's native habitat. You could check into that one. It's a good sized plant and some are downright HUGE.

[terra_australis]

Originally Posted by Anton

Australian native terrestrials do well in full sun such as.....wait for it ....... Sun Orchids, the Thelymitras. (pr Thel-ee-mite-rars).

Dendrobiums love a lot of sun, Willowbanks in Qld grows some outside under shadecloth.

Oooh... Not sure I'd be suggesting Thels to a novice grower Anton

Sorry Denny, I don't mean to doubt your abilities but Thelymitra can be quite tricky to keep alive. I have been primarily focused on growing terrestrials for several years and have only just got the hang of keeping Thels alive.

Whatever you choose for a full sun position I still believe you will need to give it a good watering in hot weather. There's not much that will tolerate a constant 35+ in full sun without the occasional refreshing beverage to stop it dehydrating. That goes for people too

[funktified]

Thanks Dan, I understand where your coming from and very much appreciate your concerns and criticisms. I did look at the Thelymitras species and they look stunning - especially the dark blue hue species from which some people called it Nuda and others Ixioxna (I'm sure I spelt that wrong).

I have read that a couple species of the Sun Orchids are easier to grow compared to the majority which terrestrial professionals have difficulty in culturing.

Having read your post, I will still try the 'easier' Thels on the basis that they look too good to pass and will heed your advice and will do more research into the species and when the time is right (for me) - I will be asking the advice and experience of Geeks here and definitely yourself if your willing to share experiences in growing these species.

Especially when I read that Australian Terrestrial Orchids are becoming rarer in "our backyard", gives me more incentive to learn.

[Ron]

[QUOTE=funktified;310827]What do you mean by "Harden Off", as this sounds like a good option.

Harden them off, means when you buy an orchid slowly each day allow more sunlight to get on its leaves, this harden them to full sunlight.
Just like a start to a suntan, a bit more sun each day.

Best way is to buy a flowering Cymbidium in late winter or early spring and place it in its perment position straight away.
Thus as the suns streangh get more each day as we head into summer it will adjust and take the full sunlight

Lot of old garden usually have a big clump of Cymbidiums growing in there gardens in full sunlight.

[Slick]

Originally Posted by Anton

Australian native terrestrials do well in full sun such as.....wait for it ....... Sun Orchids, the Thelymitras. (pr Thel-ee-mite-rars).

Dendrobiums love a lot of sun, Willowbanks in Qld grows some outside under shadecloth.

I would like to grow some native terrestrial orchids, like phaius tancervilliae, calanthe triplicatum. It is so exciting to see them in the wild, and they look quite spectacular. But I have never seen them in the shops.
I was lucky enough to have some geodorum densiflora grow in the lawn, which I have since potted. But I don't that is a common occurrence, do you have any recommendations?

[terra_australis]

Originally Posted by funktified

Thanks Dan, I understand where your coming from and very much appreciate your concerns and criticisms. I did look at the Thelymitras species and they look stunning - especially the dark blue hue species from which some people called it Nuda and others Ixioxna (I'm sure I spelt that wrong).

I have read that a couple species of the Sun Orchids are easier to grow compared to the majority which terrestrial professionals have difficulty in culturing.

Having read your post, I will still try the 'easier' Thels on the basis that they look too good to pass and will heed your advice and will do more research into the species and when the time is right (for me) - I will be asking the advice and experience of Geeks here and definitely yourself if your willing to share experiences in growing these species.

Especially when I read that Australian Terrestrial Orchids are becoming rarer in "our backyard", gives me more incentive to learn.

I totally respect that. Just be aware that Thels are specialty orchids and you will pay quite a lot of money for only a handful of tiny plants. That said, I'm more than happy to share my techniques if it will help you succeed.

From memory it was Thelymitra nuda that I had quite good results with this season. Even had flowers!

Originally Posted by Slick

I would like to grow some native terrestrial orchids, like phaius tancervilliae, calanthe triplicatum. It is so exciting to see them in the wild, and they look quite spectacular. But I have never seen them in the shops.
I was lucky enough to have some geodorum densiflora grow in the lawn, which I have since potted. But I don't that is a common occurrence, do you have any recommendations?

Hi Slick, you may want to post your question as a new thread rather than in an unrelated topic.

Phaius tankervilliae and Calanthe triplicata (aka Calanthe australasica) are reasonably common in orchid nurseries. Unfortunately they are quite bulky plants which makes it hard for people to send them in the post.