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What can I grow outdoors in this climate?

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Delilah, Oct 8, 2013.

  1. Oct 8, 2013 #1
    Delilah

    Delilah Orchidaceous

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    Location:
    Sydney, Australia = warm-temperate
    Hello

    I have used up all of my indoor space for orchids, so need to move some outside! What types can I grow safely outdoors all year? They will be sheltered from rain. My climate is...

    Mid-Summer: Average day 27C (extremes up to 45C); Average night 20C

    Mid-Winter: Average day 16C; Average night 10C (extremes down to 6C)

    Thanks :)
     
  2. Oct 8, 2013 #2
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Delilah, Welcome to the forum. I have a suggestion for you, but not about what you can grow. This is about how you can get more answers. We are a forum with a wonderful assortment of knowledgeable, helpful members from many countries. Some of us think in metric, some not. When I am answering a question I usually use the system I'm familiar with (non metric), but when I am looking for an answer I try to do the extra work of conversion to broaden the pool of anyone who might take the time to answer. We have a conversion tool at the right that is easy to use, but many of us are very busy or very lazy. I'm sure there are lots of people who can help.
     
  3. Oct 8, 2013 #3
    Sean Houtman

    Sean Houtman Active Member

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    Hello, your conditions are practically tropical. You could grow just about anything outside, I wouldn't try any Phalaenopsis outside though, keep them inside during the winter. On those really hot days, you will need do do something to cool your plants off, shade, misting or whatever. This will be most important when the temperature is over 38C. I would be surprised if you don't have some other Orchid growers in your area, and they can probably help with what doesn't do well outside as well.
     
    Marni likes this.
  4. Oct 8, 2013 #4
    Delilah

    Delilah Orchidaceous

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    Thanks for your suggestion Marni. I think the same way...but hoped there'll be hardly any peeps using Fahrenheit anymore :). For those that remain, here are my conditions in degrees-F:

    Mid-Summer: Average day 81F (extremes up to 113F); Average night 68F

    Mid-Winter: Average day 61F; Average night 50F (extremes down to 43F)

    = 'Warm-temperate' or 'almost subtropical'.
     
  5. Oct 8, 2013 #5
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Delilah, we can be slow learners here in the US.:( I'm fluent with volume and distance, but beyond boiling and freezing temperatures it doesn't register.

    There are lots of things that will grow very well. Besides Australian natives, many Mexican species and Himalayans will thrive in your conditions. Is there an orchid society near you. That's a great way to get to know what people in your area grow.
     
  6. Oct 11, 2013 #6
    Delilah

    Delilah Orchidaceous

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    Location:
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    Yes there's an orchid society but it's not very, um...dynamic o_O ... For now, I prefer to ask you guys :).

    I'm thinking that my mid-Winter night temps of 10C / 50F and sometimes less would be quite a risk to the wellbeing of many Orchids...no?

    What about Summer highs? We had 38C / 100C yesterday - hottest on record for October (Spring) and not expected. Mid-Summer can go over 35C / 95F quite often, with occasional fluke 45C / 113F days.

    I suppose I'd just like to make sure that the plants I do move outside are the most tolerant of one or both extremes (I can swap them seasonally) because dragging them all in when extreme temps threaten is not always possible.

    Which Orchids types would you risk out there? Which would you definitely not?
     
  7. Oct 11, 2013 #7
    Sean Houtman

    Sean Houtman Active Member

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    Your winter lows aren't impossible. I know a grower that sets his greenhouse thermostat for 10C / 50F, and his plants are fine. I wouldn't put Phalaenopsis that cool though, they can get leaf damage right around there. Maybe it would help us if we knew what you are growing and thinking of putting outside?
     
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  8. Oct 11, 2013 #8
    Delilah

    Delilah Orchidaceous

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    Location:
    Sydney, Australia = warm-temperate
    I have...
    • C / Slc / Blc / Lc
    • Den (already outside)
    • Onc / Odont
    • Dtps / Phal
    • Milt
    • Paph
    • Rhy (currently outside, but...)
    • Sarc (already outside)
    • V / Ascd (currently outside, but...)
    ...and hopefully soon...
    • Brass
    • Enc
    • Epi
    • Gongora
    • Max
    • Neo
    • Sed
    • Zygo

    :)
     
  9. Oct 12, 2013 #9
    Sean Houtman

    Sean Houtman Active Member

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    Besides the Phals that I have already mentioned, those all should be ok outside all year. Of course, the shadier plants need to be protected from the sun, like Paphs, Gongora, etc. A bench on the south side of your house might do very well for them. Some Paphs, such as the Chinese species can even take a light frost, but your records don't look like you get that cold.
     
  10. Nov 11, 2013 #10
    katanga

    katanga New Member

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    Delilah ,you can grow many africans orchids (Aerangis ,Cyrtorchis arcuata,Eulophia ,etc) because i'm living in Lubumbashi you have the same climat.