I feel sick-My whole collection could be wiped out

[elitebettas]

Storms are expected at this time in florida. I have all of my orchids-alittle over 100 on my non screened patio . The rain was literally blowing sideways into the patio, thrashing around most of them. The aftermath-WATER covering everything, all in the leaf axils, in new growths-Vandas, Grammatophyllums, dendrobiums, paphs, phals, cattleyas, oncidiums, the list goes on and on-and convienently right before nightfall and our temp drop.
I try my best when watering not to let any water drop on my plants. To take cutips and tissue paper and wick out all the water would take from now until tomorrow morning for that many plants.
So for all you outside growers hanging plants under trees etc. WHen it rains, do you see yellow leaves and rot a few days later? WHat makes some plants rot under these conditions and some thrive? Such a shame, I've spent years building up my collection and never had something like this happen-crazy.

[Orchidementia]

I'm so sorry to hear about your worries. I think I can allay some of them.

I grow dendrobiums, oncidiums, phals, catts, milts and zygos outside on my porch. I am ... erm ... "non compliant" about not watering at night or keeping the leaves dry, even on the phals, and I have ZERO rot. In fact, I have so much new growth and new spikes its embarassing, considering I'm fairly new to the sport and buy cheap plants.

I don't have the humidity you do - it's cooler here, so my 76%RH at night is not the same as what you have - but I'm sure most of your plants will be fine. Pretty soon some experienced growers will be along to give detailed advice - in the meantime, please take my anecdotes and sympathy!

[brookn]

I don't follow watering rules either, I have Dends, Catts, and Cyms outside, all of my collection gets watered when I have the time. It rained all day yesterday, before nightfall I simply tipped any standing water out of the plants and called it good. I know that in high humidity it is a concern with rot, so why not mist with some cinnamon spray or Physan, or something like that. Could you put a fan on them?? Phals would be my biggest concern for rot, the rest should be fine-seriously. I do not get any yellowing leaves a few days after rain. It rains here night or day, every 2-4 days, I am not really watering any of my plants any more, just letting the rain take care of them. With putting plants outside, you just have to shrug and say "let it be'. Now keep in mind I am terrible with ignoring the plants, and a reformed underwaterer. This is what has worked for me for 2 summers. Hope that helps.

[exasperatus2002]

Id think that as long as you have the air circulation you should be fine since it'll dry out faster unlike in the home where its more of a problem. After all, they elvoved while getting rained on.

[elitebettas]

Thanks guys, I went out there and tipped the ones I could to get rid of the water out of the axils. I wicked out as much as I could from the new growth and put a fan out there. I really have to just "let it be". Maybe I should just relax, there is no way I could have prevented this, happened so quickly. I just hope they make it. I'm paranoid because of how certain plants have handled this in the past. Some vandas look okay, and then a few weeks later after leaves yellow and falling off, you see the stem is rotten, and one of my sharry babys i had rotted to only three bulbs (last summer) because of water rot-now it has over 16 and thriving-but absolutely drenched tonight-I'll keep my fingers crossed. I try and keep my plants top notch, but I really just gotta let em be on this one. Only a few that I'm worried about, I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for your advice and empathy

[Stitz]

Relax. These plants have evolved. They are survivors. Otherwise, they wouldn't be here!

One which is a little more susceptible to rot, Zygopetalum, even compensates for this. Plants in this genus generally put out more new leads than other sympodial orchids such as Cattleya types for example.

Is it part of a "master plan"? No, I think that it's survival of the fittest.

--Stitzelweller--

[NancyG]

I've got most of my plants hanging in my outside garden from palms or mounted right on them. They do fine and enjoy the extra rain when it does. I've never had any of the hanging plants rot on me. Usually it is the potted ones where I'm in charge of the watering where I have had the problem. Just don't water them for awhile and they will be fine.
NancyG

[fred]

elitebettas it sounds to me that you are doing all you can for your chids
I would even say with your Location that you can relax as you have done the best you can do for your chids and thats all you can do.

I think that your plants will be OK but please keep us posted

[jerrymeola]

I grow all my plants outside open to the rain. I wish I had your 'storm' because I had at least 20 that bad in the last two weeks. Sometimes 2-3 times a day. The plants did not dry for the whole two weeks. The day before yesterday was the first non-rain day this month.

Drying after the storm is the only issue. If it stays wet like mine then bacteria and fungal problems can develop. It is less common in a home garden where the plants are not kept as crowded. I have 700 overgrown 4 inch pots (new divisions) on a 4 foot by 28 foot table. Next month I will have 2000 2 inch pots in the same area.

Air circulation is the best thing for soaked plants. One day without rain will dry most plants this time of year in Florida.

You really should not have much of a problem.

As to your 'yellowing and rot' question, healthy plants will do fine and weak plants may succumb to the added stress. As a commercial grower I accept the few deaths. I would sooner not sell a plant that is weak, even if I did not know it was weak. I usually find that the ones I pamper only die later. The really strong ones I can not kill.

Growing outside in Florida heat really does not require trying to keep leaves dry. The leaves are always dried in an hour or two. During the dry season I water after sunset to allow the plants enough time to use the water.

[FLaCo]

Elite, I wouldn't worry that much, I am at the tip down here where we get all of the crossfire from storms even when it isn't in Florida. They only worry I have is high winds messing up my plants.

There was a week where it would rain everyday all day and then another right after that that would rain at 6pm (like clockwork). The plants loved them...roots were exploding in growth...I had small amount of fungal problems but I sprayed light mix of Physan and it seemed to have regressed.

[elitebettas]

Thanks guys,
You should have seen me out there yesterday holding two giant potted orchids still from the crazy wind while rain water was whipping in my face-terrible. I did put a fan out there to dry them somewhat and it seemed to have helped. I will also rearrange a few things out there. It seems that the key really is air circulation and the hardiness of the particular plant as you guys have mentioned. I need to post a pic of my grow area to share. Thanks

[epiphyte]

If the night temps dipped lower than 55F and your orchids are in pots, then I would be concerned. Here in Southern California, when our night temps stay above 55F, I water my orchids at night using an overhead sprinkling system. All my orchids are mounted and every part of the orchid gets wet.

Even during winter when it does rain at night and temps are in the 40s I usually don't have any problem with my established orchids. Only occasionally during that brief cold and rainy period will a recently divided and mounted orchid rot because I used too much sphagnum moss.

If you do have problems with rotting orchids then I suggest mounting them if you haven't already done so. It's fairly difficult to over water mounted orchids, well, unless you've used an excessive amount of moss. Often times rot occurs in potted orchids because the bark breaks down into almost soil due to frequent waterings, poor drainage, bacteria, heat, etc. You can also try using rock based media which seem to be gaining in popularity with some orchid vendors.

[made4engineering]

I water all my orchids directly in the axils every night.

[Uechi]

I live in Florida too and almost always water my plants before noon. Guess what orchids in the wild don't have schedule. They get watered when it rains. The big key to preventing root rot, bacterial and fungus infections besides a routine of spraying is the media. I purposely repotted all my orchids that are in pots( with the exception of Phals and Bulbos ) with fast draining material mostly expanded clay pellets and large fur bark. When it rains and they get wet they drain and dry out quickly. It means that when it isn't raining you have to water more often. This isn't practical for a grower but 100 plants no sweat. As far as Vandas go pretty hard to hurt them if they are in baskets with very little media. Hanging your plants also helps by providing more air circulation.

[cloudswinger]

Originally Posted by epiphyte

If the night temps dipped lower than 55F and your orchids are in pots, then I would be concerned. Here in Southern California, when our night temps stay above 55F, I water my orchids at night using an overhead sprinkling system. All my orchids are mounted and every part of the orchid gets wet.

She's in Central Florida, it won't get near 55F until at least November.

Most tropical places I know tend to rain in the afternoon and early evening, so watering in the evening is fine.

[digitalgate]

sorry for your lost. But there is only solution-
buy more orchid with a vengeance .