Putting Outside

[Sassismom]

I have 7 cymbidiums and they are all outside in a sheltered area, my question is...are there any orchids that should not be put outside in the summer? I think it would be so much easier to get the mealys under control if I can spray them outside and also maybe it would beneficial for some others besides my cyms. I have incid., paphs., phals., dens., cattleya,laelia,brassia, I think that's all of them. I've heard not to put phals. out but not sure about the rest.

[Sassismom]

I have a couple Lady slippers as well.

[mayres]

I put all my orchids outside (mixed genera as well - like you have noted) and they all seem to benefit. No reason to not put the phals out either - as long as you have a good location for it - I'm considering. It makes for easier watering and easier spraying - unfortunately makes for easier GETTING of mealies too! The main issue I have with this process is aclimating them to the ideal amount of sunshine. They don't get nearly as much light as they would like in my house so they would all burn if they were immediately subjected to their ideal range. I've heard 15 minutes and then double the amount of sunshine they get each day until they reach their limit is a good way. This year I tried aclimating them inside - in front of some large patio windows facing east - as a first stage. From their they went to 55% shadecloth on the east side of my house. Paphs are under a large Fuji cherry tree and so far are looking great. No question they will enjoy their outdoor stay. Just be careful on their aclimation phase.

[mehitabel]

I don't know about paphs or lady slippers, and not sure what "incid" refers to. But Catts, laelias, brassia and dends, I have grown. They thrive with being outside. The catts and laelias can use 4-5 hours of morning sun, or sun from maybe 3:30 on. Shelter them from direct overhead midday sun.

I am concentrating on phals now, have a large number, and all of the ones not blooming are outside. They need a lot more shade than catts, of course. I give them sun til about 9AM, then full shade til about two when they get shade from a lattice + 50% shade cloth. THEY LOVE IT. This is my fifth year with phals outside in summer. It does take some tinkering to get the shade just right, and I have burned some when I made mistakes.

I know a lot of people feel phals need to be grown inside, and that's fine for them. I love the fast growth I get outside, especially when the nights warm up. I get about 1/2inch growth per week on the outside phals, occasionally more, and a new leaf starting every two months or so. When they are outside. Growth indoors is noticeably slower.

I do shelter them from hail, which will shred the leaves of anything. I keep them on carts out on my deck. It takes less than 10 minutes to wheel them inside if a bad storm is expected.

[Sassismom]

Thanks for the responses, I'm so happy to here this. The only reason I mention not putting the phals out was because I was told the ants would go for them. The only side I can put anything is the east and I have a large umbrella for shade and lots of trees. So I think I'm going to give it a try, we're heading for a humid spell this week so they should love that. By the way, my mistake, the incid. should have been oncidiums

[Orchidementia]

I put my phals outside when they're out of bloom, and they do very well. I put everything except the paphs outside (I have onc alliances, zygo alliances, phals, dens, catts, epis and some I'm forgetting offhand).

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Sassismom

my question is...are there any orchids that should not be put outside in the summer?

Yes, any orchid that doesn't like the conditions found outside during your summer months. This isn't a smart-a** answer. Take a look at the cultural requirements (light, temperature, humidity, watering, etc., etc) for all of the different orchids you have (catts, onc, cymbids, phals, paphs, etc., etc.). Next take a look at the conditions (light, temperature, humidity, watering, etc., etc) you have outdoors in the summer. Do you have orchids whos cultural requirements do not fit within the outdoor conditions you have in summer? If so, those are the orchids you should not put outside during summer.

Do you see the approach I'm taking here? It's much easier to know your growing conditions and the conditions your orchids need than it is to go down a list of plants and memorize "yes, no, no, yes, yes" they can or can't go outside in winter.

Cheers!

[Sassismom]

Ok thanks, I'll get reading, again, seems that's all I've been doing lately, is getting my orchid books and going to sit outside and read and read, I love the books.

[solay]

If you don't have one already, you might want to get a light intensity meter and a thermometer with humidity gauge to help figure out what conditions you have outside. I'm thinking about putting my Catts. outside too.

[Sassismom]

Where would I purchase a light meter? I already have the humidity and temp. gauge.

[mayres]

I purchased a really good used meter on ebay for about $20. Hint:There are a ton of old light meters out there from when they were a necessary tool for photography - back in the early 1970's and back for decades.
Lots of places online sell them - there are now digital units available for up to several hundred dollars but you don't need to spend anything like that amount - you can do a search in google and take your pick.
You will probably get about as many ideas and options as there are people on this forum.
Just be sure and get one that covers the range you will want for your orchids - my preference would be from zero to 10,000 footcandles - if you can find one that only covers 1000-4000 it would probably do the trick.

[kmarch]

I don't think light meters are necessary. I have grown and flowered orchids for almost 12 years and I have never owned a light meter. If you look in the book Ortho's All About Orchids, you'll find a fantastic technology-less method for determining what light levels you have in your growing area. It's fantastic and it's what I have used for more than a decade.

[Sassismom]

Thanks for the tips.

Kevin I have that book and get it out and check stuff in it all the time. Any other books you would recommend?

[Leisurely]

I don't know of a single orchid that is indigenous to an apartment or house. You don't have the ability to control very much outside except light and fertilizer. Environmental damage can take its toll on plants outdoors. Anything that goes by can take a bite out of it. I had Lubber (giant) green grasshoppers that chewed the leaves on several that I sent to summer camp. I have noticed however, that the common insects that attack indoor plants are generally not a problem on plants growing outdoors. A pool enclosure is the perfect spot but not everyone has a pool. If you do move some plants outdoors, be prepared to accept some environmental damage.