That is to bad @plantmanager. That you did loose so many plants. Hopefully they will do better now with your new greenhouse. In spring my Clivia will also go back to the greenhouse. I do not have heating there yet. I did buy one, but it is not installed yet.

Thanks, Adeniumgirl. I was heartbroken. At the time my daughter was in an orchid society, and had so many wonderful plants that she shared with me.

Do any of you have recommendations for orchids that might like my greenhouse conditions? I am keeping it at 55 degrees F in winter, and in summer it can go to about 103F with all vents open and a solar fan going. That's a pretty tough range and so far I'm just experimenting to see what does well.

You might want to copy and paste that question onto the "Orchid "forum, Karen. I guess you know I grow over 500 orchids, huh? We are not exactly cool here in the summer. Check out www.tropicalplantsandmore.com and you'll see some of what I grow and how I grow them.

I would have to know a lot more about your growing conditions. There are lots of orchids that love warmth, but humidity becomes a factor with that heat. Do you have any trees around that you could hang orchids under during the spring-fall months? Do you have shade cloth over your greenhouse? I could ask many more questions but why don't you just give me (and everyone else on the "Orchids" forum) as much information as possible. The more details the better.

I always do what I can to save a plant, but after being gone for over a week and having 4 nights and days of freezing temps, there was no way to save the clivia (or any other plants I had on the porch). I was just sick about it. The original clivia plants were started from seed in the spring of 2005 and survived Hurricane Katrina. I had them sitting on the table in a plastic tray, and as the water rose in our house, the tray floated to the ceiling. When the tray hit the ceiling, it formed a seal and none of the plants were damaged. Truly a miracle to find something I could salvage from the ruins. Then I lost them to the freeze! UGH!

Thanks, Ken. I posted in the orchid forum.
froggiesgirl, that had to hurt losing them to the freeze. I've had that happen, too.

That is really terrible @Froggiesgirl. First saving it after the hurricane and than loose it to freezing.

Nature is weird; that's for sure! My house was completely underwater, yet those tiny clivia seedlings survived! I sure hated losing them, but life goes on!

I've never tried to start orchid seeds. Do you use special equipment? Just wondering. I've started plumeria and adenium from seed before but loved them to death!

I never started orchids from seed. I only have 2 Vanda's that I got as seedlings in a jar from Thailand. Growing orchids from seeds does seem very difficult.
It is sure easy to love your plants to death. Sometimes you like to take good care and than it is just to much.

I thought about starting orchids from seeds once. Even bought all the materials. Then life got in the way, so I resold the materials and never tried.

I love vandas! I have 3. One is in bloom right now. One is just looking pretty. One is a miniature.

I have loved many plants to death over the years. I hope they are gracing the heavenly garden beautifully!

I am sure they are, Julie. Our plants become our friends and kept long enough, they become part of our family.

@drdawg @JamesAcclaims

Please let's talk about the rare plumeria...I am intrigued. Please do post pictures.

Holy cow, @Rainbow, this particular thread has been long-forgotten.

Well I obviously haven't forgotten. I like off-topic stuff within a forum so we can talk about other things as well. Livens things up...if you know what I mean.

The spice of life.

I know a whole lot more about plumeria than adenium, but assume that grown-from-seed-plants are not true to the parent. At least unless the pollination is completely controlled in laboratory-type conditions and enclosures. Thus, every plumeria grown from seed will be one-of-a-kind. I always know the seed-pod parent but never the pollen parent. Thus when first-time flowering occurs, I find it interesting to compare the flowers with the seed parent's flowers. That's been a fun thing for me, first to grow from seed, then to see those seedlings bloom, to compare the flowers, and then to put a name to that seedling. I have named five seedlings so far. These are the five. Notice how 'Kathryn's Fuchsia Fantasy' flowers have changed from the first blooming to the second blooming?

'DD's Delight'


'Kathryn's Fuchsia Fantasy' 09/29/15 04/24/16


'MM's Compact Pinwheel'


'MM's Pizazz'


'MM's Soft Pink'

I can't believe the difference between the 1st and 2nd bloom generations on the Fuchsia Fantasy. The Pizazz is so gorgeous!

You want to know why we can't identify plumera by their flowers. Which flower form and color would you choose to ID the K's?

Bird of Paradise doing its thing. This is the one out by the road that belongs to this house. I can't get my potted ones to bloom. I think they might be too young. They are happy and thriving, just no flowers.

I planted Bird of Paradise but they didn't make it. The Heliconia did make it though and has multiplied. Don't have a pic but here's one from the data base.

I love crab claws. Have they bloomed for you? I have always wanted some, but haven't gotten any yet.

Yes, they have bloomed for me. I'll go out at first daylight and see if I still have blooms and take pictures.