Epidendrum hybrid orchids

I thought that they were all yours for a minute then!!

Meanie:

I don't that many varieties of Epidendrum orchids. My neighbor 3 houses down have hundreds in their front and back yard. They're very spectacular in bloom right now. I'll have to get some pics of their orchids soon.

I always love going to the San Diego Zoo, and among the attractions are their huge clumps of reed-stemmed Epidendrums! My family weren't impressed, until it finally sunk in that they were orchids, not oleanders. : )

Tugbrethil:

That's the first time I've heard of someone mistaking an Epidendrum orchids for an Oleander. :>)

Epidendrum orchid hybrids are very commonly grown here. It's one of the easiest orchids to grow...and they bloom all year.

Delonix: I couldn't figure it out, myself! After all, some of them were bright orange! But then, I'm the only plant freak in my immediate family. Epidendrums are just barely possible outside here: they really suffer in the heat of summer. I suspect that it is one of those plants that could be bred to grow well here, if only there were some plant breeders here in the desert! Oh well.
: /

Tugbrethil:

I would think some varieties may grow outside in the shade there. They grow in the very hot sun and dry conditions in inland San Diego. The leaves can turn red or even sunburn in full sun sometimes...however, they bloom very well.

Sadly, when the nights start going above 90º F, they just stop growing, lose 3/4 of their leaves, and frequently just wither away. Classic heat stress symptoms, here. Even eastern San Diego County doesn't really compare with the Valley of the Sun for total heat stress. Think Death Valley, or the lower Rio Grande valley, or maybe the hottest parts of central Florida.

Tugbrethil:

We never get low temps in summer above 90ºF/32ºC.
I forgot your temps are like in Palm Springs...hot as Hell!

Yep! We're Zone 13--the cursed zone!

Tugbrethil:

Well, it's a good climate for cacti and some succulents. lol! :>)