Phals Outside?

[teh_Kibbster]

I am from Hamilton, Ontario. Basically just a touch further south than Toronto, Canada.

I currently have 5 phals, one is a mini I just picked up in January. I have them in a west / south-west window which has sheer drapes. I have had only one rebloom this year, which only had two flowers on the spike.

This summer, I really want to move these guys (most of my plants really) outside in hopes that they'll do better. I've had quite a bit of new growth over the last year and was very excited for this blooming season, and I only got two blooms off a single plant. It was disappointing to say the least.

An orchid at the office I've been tending to (my boss wanted to throw it out when the last blooms died) has rebloomed off it's old spike, but with two branches of flowers, with a total of 8 blooms. I also had my very first phal rebloom with 10 blooms off two branches on a single spike last year, so I'm doing something right I guess...

I am unsure if I should build a shade-cloth tent? We do get pretty toasty here in the summer, upwards of 30C. The entire property has very direct sun (we're on just under an acre). The only place I can think of where they might be okay would be near the side of the house. We have a very large cedar hedge which provides shade for the majority of the day, and ferns flourish in that corner. It stays relatively cool, and is the dampest soil on the lot in the summer.

I could also put them on our patio which has a 500 gallon pond. However, it is all cement, and is very dry. It stays cool, but I think they would dry out much too fast.

Has anyone grown these guys outside in Canada? I think it could be possible from May - September with daily checks and humidity trays...

[kmarch]

As long as the outdoor conditions (light, temperatures, water, etc.) are within the range of what phals want, you could certainly grow them outside for a time.

[katrina]

I put all my plants outside as soon as the night time temps are consistently warm enough. They go out in phases...cool growers first...Intermediates second...warm/hot growers being the last to be hauled out.

The phals will need to be protected from any direct sun so yes, you'll need a shade structure of sorts OR the patio would be perfect if it offer the necessary protection. Being outside in the elements they will most likely need watered more frequently regardless of whether they're on the patio or in some sort of structure.

Also, they will need to be transitioned out into natural sunlight. Start in a shadier than required location and over a period of time (for me-10-14 days), increase the intensity until they are situated in their Summer spot.

[11Orchid126]

Question: Is the plant at work in a window with sheers, or is it getting direct but good light? Your problem might be the sheers. You are in an area that doesn't get as much bright light as North Carolina does. In North Carolina you would need the sheers, but in Ontario you may not.

[LauraGR]

Phal leaves are also really affected by things falling on them - a little bit of leaf from another plant stays on a phal leaf for a couple of days, and there is a big blemish underneath. Last summer I put my phals out and they grew just fine but look like a mutant herd with their splotched and blemished leaves. I'm keeping them in next summer and putting out most everything else.

[Bolero]

Yeah I agree, I am growing my Phals outside right now and two have spiked which is a little late for these but I think the natural light has helped them bloom.

So I would recommend it provided the day and night temps are ok.