Vulystekeara orchid

It looks great! Can it stay outside all year?

No - it'll have to come in when temps dip to 5/8°c.

Hope mine does the same..Great little flowers

I'm always amazed at you putting them outside...it just seems counter-intuitive to put such exotic things outside in the UK. Even marsh orchids look strange to me outdoors.....beautiful! :D

That's very pretty ! it likes your new home :o)

Keep the faith P/nel!

Karen - this has even started a couple of new pseudobulbs off!

Cheers Amy!!

Meanie:

I was reading about Vulystekeara. Do you think 5ºC might be pushing it, especially if the daytime temps are very cool, also...right? I've seen this one growing outside here...so I know the absolute low of 60ºF/16º in winter (which I read) is not true.

I reckon that would be pushing it a little if you want it to remain happy!

I'm definitely not an orchid expert! So, I don't know what the absolute minimum temp Vulystekeara would tolerate before it would die. I'm guessing a light frost at 38ºF/3.3ºC (exposed) would damage it severely or even possibly kill it.

Well, I'm not going to find out for you!!!

Why not? lol! :>) Just kidding!

My Cyms will be out as close to a frost as I dare!

Meanie:

I remember the Cymbidiums surviving the biggest freeze ever recorded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1990. They're as tough and hardy as they come.

How cold was it and how quickly did it warm up after the "big freeze"?

The 1990 "Big Freeze" was the worst ever recorded in many parts of the Bay Area and Western States. It lasted in some places almost two weeks. San Francisco recorded 3 freezing nights...which was the most ever! The temps in some inland areas of The Bay had temps down to 14ºF/10ºC., which did lot of damage to trees and plants. Most of the cities closest to the bay had temps from 20ºF - 30ºF., and daytime highs barely got above 40ºF - 45ºF for 3 or 4 days (which is unheard of).

This freeze was devastating to the citrus and avocado crops.

Here's a little more info:

http://www.avocadosource.com/cas_yearbooks/cas_75_1991/cas_1991_063.htm

Still not gonna try mine in the ground, but surprisingly tough anyway!

I know it survived one night of the coldest temp where I lived in the Bay Area of 22ºF/-5.5ºC (which was unheard of until 1990). Generally, the temp would fall down to 28ºF/-2ºC once every 7 - 10 years.

That is amazing!

Yes, my garden looked like a flame-thrower went through it! That freeze was so HORRIBLE!!!