Recommendations, anyone?

[montanum]

Hi All,
I would love to grow a few more Paphs and Phrags in my sunroom, but I want to get something that will do well! It's SW facing and gets a lot of heat and light! In the winter, I keep it heated to 55F, but on sunny days it can get up to 80F. Winter humidity is 50-60%. During the summer, spring and fall, I keep the windows open when the temp is above 50F. The summer low in there is between 55-70F and the high is usually between 80-100F (average 85F with about 5 days around 100). On the hottest days, I pull the blinds to keep the light out, but the temp still remains high. Summer humidity is usually 30-80%.

The plant that does best in there, year round, is Paph kolopakingii. He's in the brightest spot all year and never shows and burn or wilt. During the winter, the other slippers all get moved out into the sunniest spots, and in summer get moved off to the sides so they don't burn (because they do!). Below is a post with some pics.

http://cypripedieae.blogspot.com/2009/07/2009-01-19-sunroom.html

Problem is, I'm out of "safe from the summer burn" space!... So, which Paph and/or Phrag species (I don't do hybrids) do you think would like it in there next to the kolo? FYI, I prefer multiflorals. While you're at it, let me know of any other orchids you think might do well. FYI: white and fragrant pass my test almost every time.

Thanks,
Ross

 

[rdhed]

Ross...you might want checkout sanderianum or rothchilds. They are warmer growers. Only problem is alone they are slow growing, but as crosses they are faster to bloom. Great growing area by the way. Lucky you!!
Where are you located? That will help sometimes in making recommendations.

--Allen--

 

[Elena]

I grow my Coryopedilum and Brachy paphs pretty bright. They are on S facing window and rarely get shaded.

Perhaps Paph druryi too, I got the impression that it can take very bright light.

 

[SlipperKing]

Have you got a problem using some kind of shading material? If not, your selection is only limited to the number species.

 

[goldenrose]

Have you got a problem using some kind of shading material? If not, your selection is only limited to the number species.

My thought exactly! If you don't want to add sheers then can your big plants in the front row shade smaller plants behind them?
IMO sands generally do not take as much sun as a roth or other multis would.

 

[Leo Schordje]

The one Paph that can take nearly full sun is Paph philippinense. Try one of those.

 

[Rick]

The one Paph that can take nearly full sun is Paph philippinense. Try one of those.

Yup

Phili's
Stonei
Roths
Druryi
Exul
Like it almost Vanda bright. Exul and druryi are also very heat tolerant.

I would do something to augment the summer humidity condition to keep it from dropping below 60% and add some fans to promote good circulation.

My sanderianum and supardii can't take the light levels of the above. Of all my multis, sanderianum is in the shadiest and most ventilated areas of my GH

 

[SlipperFan]

Druryi is an excellent choice, in my experience.

 

[pdxpaphguy]

In addition to the ones others mention, I also have my haynaldianum and supardii under brighter light. If you add some shade in the summer you could grow most paphs in that room.

Good luck.

 

[montanum]

Hi all,
Thanks everyone for your recommendations. I'll definitely add some of these to my wishlist!

I live in Portland, OR, and I do have a fan in there on a timer. I have a phili, sand, roth, Phrag popowii, and xGrande. I've tried all of these out in the early summer sun (except the phili since it was new and its leaves looked so sissy! I'll try it out in full sun starting in the fall.) with burn on the new growths (grrrr...) or at least some yellowing. They started to burn on a few hot days in April, even though they had been in full winter sun all along. Maybe I need to raise my humidity to avoid this... What can I do in a room with wood floors and many open windows to get the humidity up?

Even if I haven't mastered this room during summer yet, the good news is that the plants LOVE the winter sun. My Phrag popowii had 1 new growth in 2006, 1 new in 2007, 1 new in 2008 and 7 new growths this year! (We moved in last summer...)

Rick, I could put up some shading to help, but I think my wife might object to anything that looks too practical, if you know what I mean. I'll see what I can do.

Our eventual goal is to have a trellis with pergola at the west end and a Dove tree somewhere in the middle to take out some of the hot summer light past 4pm. Unfortunately, it'll be a year before any of that happens... but it means that during the Holiday season 2010, I can really start collecting!

Thanks again,
Ross

 

[TutoPeru]

Try Paph. lowii

 

[bench72]

A trellis with wisteria growing on the outside might help... these are fast growing climbers that lose their leaves in winter so shade in summer and light isn't compromised in winter... plus they have beautiful blue or white flowers in spring before the leaves come back.

I have a number of my philippinense in almost full sun... they will take a fair bit of it.. but maybe you're right about the humidity.... air movement can also help cool it down a little.

 

[montanum]

I will have some deciduous climbers to go on the Pergola, but probably something a little less wild than Wisteria I'm planning on a hardy kiwi, Mandavilla laxa, and a few species of deciduous Jasmine. We'll also have an evergreen Trachelospermum jasminoides that will go on a vertical trellis facing West that won't obscure much of the window anyway.

I measured the humidity yesterday in the sunroom at peak heat: 92F and 28% Humidity. Bleh. I've got to get a humidifier in there soon... It's going to be 100 this week...

 

[pdxpaphguy]

I'm in Portland also and grew most all my paphs in a north and west facing room and they did fine (no hard direct light), however, I added a light for the multis. Now I have them out in a greenhouse and they seem to be doing well there too. You can put them on plant trays with light diffuser material in the bottom to raise the humidity at the plant. Even with the weather we're having the humidity in my greenhouse is good until my exhaust fan kicks on.