Orchids on balcony?

[kel80]

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or if I should consider risking it. I have a northern exposure, and here in Chicago it gets very hot and humid. I'm wondering if it would be a bad idea to have some orchids outside. Has anyone displayed their orchids outside on their balcony? My planted pots and other plants thrive outside, but I'm not so sure about an orchid as the sunlight is not filtered and the balcony receives about 3-4 hours of unfiltered sunlight/day.

What do you guys think?

[fred]

i think this link will help you with that question also.

I think its 3 pages long

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...Growing+spaces

[kel80]

Originally Posted by fred

i think this link will help you with that question also.

I think its 3 pages long

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...Growing+spaces

Thanks Fred.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to move. To another state.

[fred]

did you see the pics of the balconys

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/att...s-p1010085.jpg
this is just one in the link i posted

[kel80]

Originally Posted by fred

did you see the pics of the balconys

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/att...s-p1010085.jpg
this is just one in the link i posted

Yep. I think that poster was from Panama. I'm very worried about the sunlight. And of course, winter. Our first frost can come as early as September and last until May-so I would need to figure out where to put them in the winter.

[E-Jag]

What kind of orchids do you have? My phals and dens live on my balcony year round (notice I live in Tampa - lot of heat/humidity). The phals are in an area where they get no direct sun but huge amounts of indirect light. The dens get a couple hours of direct late afternoon sun. They love it. I would recommend you try it UNLESS you have a type of orchid that is really low light. Mine like the humidity - I live on the water - and seem less bothered by bugs/spider mites. Actually, they've never had any health issues but that's probably pure luck.

E-Jag

I live in central New Jersey and our frosts run the same as yours, from the end of September to mid-May. We also get temps in the 80's and 90's, and very high humidity. I find that summering the plants outdoors, even for such a short time, does wonders for them. Three or four hours of sun is okay, but what part of the day? Morning sun is good for all plants. The afternoon sun is good for light loving cattleyas, laelias, dendrobiums, etc. Late afternoon sun is good for oncidiums, encyclias, miltonias, etc. The phals and paphs would have to be protected by an umbrella or shade cloth of some sort.

[kel80]

E-Jag, I have two phals and a brassidium, however I was going to go to the nursery tomorrow morning and purchase a few more. I was going to specifically buy whatever I would be able to put out on my balcony (so I didn't have to hear from my husband that I already have enough plants)

Orchid126-Thanks for your info. The sun seems to hit the entire balcony around 2 PM. I'm not exactly sure. I'll have to look into that over the weekend. I figured I wouldn't be able to put the phals out there without protection or filter.

I would love to live in a place like Florida where I would be able to have them out all year.

[prisana]

kel80, if you go out to the balcony and it's uncomfortably for you, it will probably be uncomfortable for your 'chids. Here in FL it gets hot and humid in mid summer but we do have nice breeze going most of the time. That air circulation , even if it's warm , can be a relief to them. Misting them will provide quick relief also, but that won't last. Do you get a enough breeze on you balcony ?

You can also stretch out some shade cloth between the balcony and the orchids, that could help them some. I found this hemp shade cloth at HD that has natural look and won't be an eye sore to your crib . It's not a very shady shade cloth, but all you have to do is fold it a couple of time to make it thicker and make the sunlight more bearable for the plants.

[kel80]

Prisana,
Great way of looking at things. Fortunately I'm on the fourth floor so the breeze is very nice. I will have to check with our condo board to see if it against the rules to have a shade cloth on the balcony. They can be quite strict.

What do you do when it rains? It's been raining off and all on day, and I'm starting to worry that they are getting drenched. I can't leave work every time it rains.

[prisana]

kel80, yeah..I know those rules are such pains..but I like having them ( most of the time ) What about decorative blinds ( the folded kind that you put in the house , I saw some bamboo kind , very nice , and it can be part of your balcony set up so they shouldn't have a problem with it ( they look much nicer than some patio furnitures I've seen )

Don't worry about the rain, unless it's every single day all day. And all you have to do if that's the case, then don't water them as much, until they dry out...All my orchids are outside in the rain and storm and wind and they are doing fine. You can get a bottle of Physan 20 and mix it very weakly and spray them as protection from fungus and rot .

[mdomingz]

Hi Kel80, i'm the poster from Panama. I'd say you should be fine with having your plants on your balcony. My balcony is facing south. Obviously i don't have those winter problems you do. But on the other hand, my problems are mostly from november to march, when the sun hits my balcony directly most of the day, making it a rather harsh for some of my plants, Really hot sun, but also really windy. At one point i did have shade cloth on the rail. What i do is to keep them hung under my ferns and next to the wall. The sun loving ones, i don't move.

Now, i removed the shade cloth and installed a lattice. Looks cool, gives enough shade and gives me more space to hang plants, . The sun loving ones, i moved to a more exposed area.

In all these, you should consider air circulation. Rain might be not a serious issue, hey i live in panama (can you actually get more rain!!??). Remember that in nature no one has to rush home to see how plants are doing. Time and experience will teach you on the most appropiate culture specs in having the same plant in or out. The only thing i would really consider if i were you, is the fact that the breeze can knock something over as orchids tend to be heavy on top with lighter weight pots.

Some other people way up north, might give you a better advice on weathers more similar to your own. Your phals and brassidium will do great among your other plants, none of them are to be exposed to direct sun unless it's early in the morning.

hope it helps somewhat

manuel
panama

[kmarch]

dear kel80,

Before movign to Australia I lived in Michigan. There, most of us put our orchids outside for the summer and they do really well. You are quite right to be concerned about the light being too bright. what direction does your balcony face? I grew all sorts of orchids in an east facing window with no screens or blinds. Every morning they got a few hours of direct early morning (and therefore cool) sunlight. I grew Cattleyas, Phrags, Coelogyne, Encyclias, and a few other things like this wiht good success.

Take a look at your culture sheets for the types you have to see how cool they can tolerate and just bring them in the autumn when it starts getting too cool.

[kel80]

kmarch-
I'm glad to hear yours did so well here in the midwest. The balcony is a northern exposure, but during the summer half of the balcony receives sunlight nearly all day while the other half receives sunlight from about 2 PM and on. I downloaded all of the culture sheets and I seem to think they will do just fine out there.

Thanks everyone