My outside orchids

[Freddie]

Some of my orchids, living the "au naturel" lifestyle...



Dendrobium nobile



Cattleya



Cattleya



Dendrobium Narrabeen Sunshine Made x (Hambuhren Gold x Upin Red)

[Freddie]

Dendrobium farmeri



Den farmeri



Another Den nobile



Cattleya in bud

[dahlan]

All the orchids look very happy in their 'au naturel' growing conditions. We should grow more orchids in his manner wherever possible. Marvelous orchid growing tho'.

[Freddie]

Encyclia polybulbon



Lc Tokyo Magic "6-1" x Slc Cosmic Delite



Sarcochilus Elizabeth "On Forever" (in spike)

[78Terp]

Very cool! Lovely too!

[catttan]

Beautiful. Great growing. The climate in SE Queensland seems to be the ideal place for outdoor growing of most orchids - your catts and, Nobile and and deciduous dendrobes are in superb condition! Congratulations!!! I am in awe.

[Freddie]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments! Glad you've enjoyed the pics

All the orchids look very happy in their 'au naturel' growing conditions. We should grow more orchids in this manner wherever possible.

I so agree and definitely recommend to anyone who has the right climate and a tree in their yard to give it a try. Have to admit I was a bit hesitant at first, wondering whether it was fair to take a lush, healthy orchid grown in near perfect, sheltered conditions in a nursery and ask it to survive the harsh elements outdoors in a tree. But most seem to adapt very quickly and some are obviously thrilled at the opportunity to get back to nature!

There's trade offs of course... the plants get cold in winter, hot in summer, pounded by heavy rain during thunderstorms, roasted in drought and nibbled on by every passing insect. Flowers don't seem to last as long as they do indoors or under shelter, and of course, they can't be transported to shows. But the plants grow much tougher, they're able to take greater extremes in temperature and once established they pretty much thrive on neglect.... no need to do a great deal of anything except stand back and enjoy the blooms! Woot!

The climate in SE Queensland seems to be the ideal place for outdoor growing of most orchids

Yes, we are so lucky here with the climate. With a few exceptions it's almost a "grow anything" environment. A phal I mounted in a tree at the beginning of autumn not only survived through the winter (without any additional protection) but is currently growing a new leaf, a new root and two spikes! Another phal I placed in a different tree got too cold and I had to take it down again and put it back in a pot to recover.

I've also just recently started trying a few of the colder growers... masdevallia, sarcochilus and cymbidium. I mounted them during the winter months to give them a chance to establish a bit before the heat arrives. Since they haven't yet been through a full summer I don't know how they will go, it's still a case of wait and see.

[cucubirds]

nice photos & great orchids you have

[ksriramkumar]

Excellent work. I am awestruck too.!!.

[gchen]

Wow! Awesome! I would do the same if I had some mature trees around! Healthy Dends and Catts!