Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Tropical garden #125, 1 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
Deb, I would think some of the tougher tropicals could stay out for a few more weeks. Surely you get Indian Summer weather off and on during October? In Utah (where we lived before) sometimes it lasted into early December!

My passion vines are all in the ground here, and I never cover them up either. So they survive well into the 30's without even losing leaves. The fruiting one seems to get inspired to bloom like crazy when the weather changes, too. All the gingers are in the ground, too. They go on blooming through several cold fronts before they finally pack it in. Tops die, I throw mulch on them . . done deal.

I'm sure you could grow orchids in your sleep in that wonderful tropical basement of yours. Just be sure they get good air circulation and they will love living at your house. Here's my big purple Catt with 3 more buds getting ready to open. btw, the Orchid Disease that is the big problem is what infects the people who grow them - it is incurable, once you start you'll never stop wanting to try all the different kinds .

Last thing, if you see orchids for sale at big box stores with a sign that reads "Easy care, 3 ice cubes each week . . " run away! It's a conspiracy to sell more orchids - they want you to kill them off quickly.