I don't get the blooms I should even on our native species. I'm still working at finding them the right spot, with enough sun, not too much sun, safe from cats climbing trees, and remembering to spray them with some fert occasionally.
I do think they have it a bit easier in some ways in Florida because they have cooler winters and it is easier to protect from occasional cold than to prevent overheating. Mostly though, I think it is attention. I get distracted by life and don't give my plants the daily attention that I should. It's funny because if you asked me what I like the most it is pottering around in the garden. Yet, I agree to all these other activities that keep me from it. I need to work on that.
I'd love to try vandas in my garden, I think they would do well. I just haven't been able to find any for sale here. Dendrobians do well here, Encyclias, Myrmecophilias, Oncidiums. I have done a lot of moving things around lately in the garden that hopefully will make it easier for me to take better care of the orchids. I just got a beautiful long piece of ribbon wood (at least I think that is what it is) and it has lots of places to put orchids. I'm trying to decide whether to hang it at the entrance to the terrace or attach it to the wall and what kind of orchids to put on it.
I keep trying to equal the lush, beautiful garden I have in my mind but I'm not always very successful.
