Question about Outdoor Growing in Wide Humidity Swings

[Normkp]

I'm thinking of moving Dendrobiums and Cattleya Alliance and other orchids outdoors this summer, BUT I believe my humidity swings are unusually wide and don't know how that will affect my plants. Daytimes are quite arid while nights are frequently high in humidity. Daytime can dip to the teens while nighttime humidity can easily go into the the 60 percentages and higher. (That's because I'm at the head of a valley that comes off the San Francisco Bay; nights bring foggy air up valley while days go into the 80s and 90s and bake the air dry.)

So, my question is what kinds of orchids can adapt to--and hopefully thrive--in this kind of climate.

Norm

[arleneg]

Norm,

I live in an area with low humidity, especially during summer months. The trick is water thoroughly in the morning when temp is in mid 80s and above. Since Dens and Catts like to dry slightly between watering, you can probably water them every other day or so. Use the skewer method to check if it's time to water.

[brookn]

Norm-you just described my typical summer (coincidentally I live in a valley). I kept my Dends. and Catts. outside last summer. I had to ramp up the watering a bit to keep them going, but they did relatively well (I am still a newbie at it). The key was finding a place that made them happy, and by the time I did summer was over hee hee. Now I know for this summer though lol. I found that dappled light hanging in a tree was great for the Catts., and a little lower light for the Dends. on the other side of the yard by a large tree ( which is sadly destroyed because of the ice we had). You should be fine, the only trouble I really had was deciding which time of day was best to water them that they weren't in sunlight.

[epiphyte]

According to the Napa Valley Orchid Society most orchids can go outdoors from Mothers day until Halloween. Some of the warmer types such as Vanda and Phalaenopsis need to go out later and go back in earlier.

[Normkp]

Many thanks, you all. That's exactly the kind of guidance I was looking for. I have a plant stand ready and waiting outside, and it's in dappled light.

I'm putting in tomatoes this weekend. The orchids won't be far behind.