Here;s mine...I planted this huge Ctenanthe lubbersiana out. It had gotten so potbound the roots could not absorb water. It was already in a 3 gallon, and took up so much space in the greenhouse, I had to get it out...so its my latest experiment. It will be very well established by next winter....I figure I can throw a blanket over it in a frost/freeze

Status of this?

froze last 2 years, came back last 2 years

I planted Ctenanthe lubbersiana outside three years ago, it wasn't even fazed by the 8 hours at 32F, no protection except overhead oak tree.
This year I left my phalaenopsis orchids out, the night we went to freezing I tossed frost cover over them...they bloomed better than they ever have this year, we had more nights this year in the 40's - upper 30's than previous years. The leaves took a bit of a hit, but the flowers are beautiful.

The night Epiphyllum hanging in the background also stay outside and take a few hours at freezing.

Thank you, Gina.

Gorgeous, Sherri! Interesting report.

Unless I'm forgetting somebody, all of the Z9 plants I put in the ground last year are back, Russelia, Pentas, Angelonia, purple porterweed. It was a really mild winter though, not much to hang your hat on.

I was thinking about getting some ANgelonia just today!

If it can handle winter at this latitude, it should be downright sturdy @ yours. I love the loooooong bloom time of Angelonia, right through the most brutal heat. I don't have room for otherwise boring plants (green lumps & bumps) that only bloom for a short time.

I am really trying to populate my new cottage garden with a lot of different things. Are Angelonia perennial?

Yes. And comes in several shades, white & various pinks/purples.
Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia)
https://garden.org/plants/sear...

I had a phaius tankervilleae with a half dozen buds and looking great when that February frost hit. It is still alive and put up a few new leaves but all that were there to start and the buds all turned a shiny black. It looked like a patent leather plant for a while.

I didn't get as many blooms on my Nun's orchid this year, the cold came as the blooms were starting, however they all looked fantastic at Leu Gardens, they're quite a bit more established.

My oncidium orchid basket is blooming now, stated cold tolerance of 50F, briefly down to 40F, this one has survived down to freezing with no protection, hangs from an oak tree.

Mine is blooming too! Wow if it can go sown to freezing I might try a smidge outside

I was just thinking the same.

Always worth a try, mine gets east morning sunrise, so it warms up fast, other than that it gets blown all around with wind.

I always feel like agastaches are a problem for me. I had one that recently popped up in a pot but they never grow for long. Blue fortune did do well for me. I have a crazy fortune and globetrotter currently. Also Mexican sunflowers do not tend to last for me.

Miamiu said: I always feel like agastaches are a problem for me. I had one that recently popped up in a pot but they never grow for long. Blue fortune did do well for me. I have a crazy fortune and globetrotter currently. Also Mexican sunflowers do not tend to last for me.

I've never had good luck with agastache, I think the rain and heat do them in.

I'm currently trying the red form of Areca vestiaria palm outside. It seems to be thriving for me but I did not anticipate the fronds shredding in the wind. I am on a Tampa Bay inlet and it's quite windy certain times of the year. I push the zone on quite a few palms. Satakentia, Kentiopsis, Dypsis cabadae, Dypsis pembana, red sealing palm etc.

I have the yellow form in the greenhouse, its about 15-16 or so years old

I bought a red one last year from Top Tropicals, its about 2 feet tall and such a cutie...I can;t wait til it gets some size.