Miltoniopsis, an orchid genus native from Costa Rica to Ecuador. They are generally treated as cool growing orchids, preferring to stay below 80F but are considered a difficult orchid for someone to grow in a home. Miltoniopsis prefer very good water with very light amounts of fertilizer.

Blast, that's the one everyone on here complaints about.

I was going to toss it outside thinking it's a catt. But it sounds like this one will still do well outside in the shade here; it rarely gets above 80 or below 55.

Thanks for your response.

Yes, but what sort of humidity levels do you get outside there?If I tried to grow another one, i would try indoors here.

This post was edited by arthurm on Sun, Apr 27, 14 at 18:07

I think they are probably higher outside. I am very close to the ocean here--my guess is 45-70% generally.

The problem here is not the average weather where the wind is coming in from the Pacific Ocean, it is when the wind is coming from the dry interior of the continent.

Summer example max 42.5C Humidity 8%

Orchidnick is trialling one in his cool-house with possible success. Think San Francisco climate.

We do get the air blowing from the dry inland occasionally. Here it's called Santa Ana winds. They are rare, though, and I hope rare enough to not affect the plant.

I think it's dryer indoors here (except for my bathroom, but that is already stocked with orchids) because the sun is fairly intense and as it heats up the air inside (like a greenhouse effect), the rising temperatures have the effect of sucking moisture out of things. Most of my plants don't seem to care, but I hear that this one is finicky.

Throw it outside in heavy shade and water it alot when it is warm and it will reward you with many beautiful flowers. Most people kill them by overwatering them. However, outside they dry out quckly so can be watered very often. Just stick your finger on the top of the pot and when if feels dry water it. I also mist mine, once a day in the summer if I'm not going to water it.