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I agree that phals and minicatts do well under lights. Potinara Hoku Gem is especially floriferous -- it blooms on every new growth, a desirable habit in underlight plants. You can *grow* almost anything under lights, but the taller, higher light orchids don't bloom well under lights. Shorter, lower light orchids do.
Summer: I have summered my orchids outdoors every summer since summer of 04. Getting the right amount of shade is a trial and error thing and takes some persistence to get just right. But I have found that if you get the shade/sun balance they need they thrive outdoors. That goes for catts, encyclias, oncids and phals. In fact, without a summer outdoors, I don't think catts and encyclias get quite the light they need for abundant blooms.
It's the easiest way to give them plenty of light, air and humidity. And I love having the mess outdoors, and being able to water with a hose.
I've never found any particular bug problems outdoors. Once a caterpillar, and once or twice a wannabe grasshopper that didn't last long after I found him. But not even one incident per summer, and easily taken care of if you have the habit of inspecting your plants often. And far fewer pests than you get on indoor plants. Mine do summer on a second-story deck, not near any garden plants and that may influence the dirth of bugs.
All of them, but especially oncids and phals benefit from being outdoors in late August and September when the lengthening and cooler nights stimulate spiking
If you decide to try minicatts, go to Marble Branch Farms website, where they specialize in mini-catts, and are very helpful. If you call them they can give you an idea of which ones bloom on every new growth.
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