Moving orchids with S/H outdoors

[syndywindy]

When I return from vacation, I want to move my orchids outside. I have a few questions I hope someone can help me with. I have the perfect spot, early morning sun for a couple hours, then dappled or filtered sunlight the remainder of the day. Most of my orchids are now in S/H. Does putting these orchids outside change vs. orchids in other potting medium? In the Chicago area, we get alot of hot humid days. Would I need to water more or does the humidity allow for less watering? Or do I continue to water as I normally would? Also, Chicago can have some pretty intense thunderstorms. Will all that rain be a problem? Or we can have a couple days of steady rain. Should I provide a cover to protect them during heavy rains as I don't want to overwater. I already have my cym's(in bark) outside and they are doing very nicely unprotected. What do you think?

[mehitabel]

Syndy, I have grown in s/h, but am not presently growing in that medium. However, I am in St Louis, so our weather is similar (you are a alittle cooler, tho.

I have had orchids outdoors in summer for 5 years now. They love it. Watering and fertilizing is easier. Light is abundant, and they grow like fiends.

1. Watering. It's a lot harder to overwater orchids outside in summer because with the warm/hot bright days they do need more water. Your orchids will need watering more often outdoors. Depending on the type of orchid and the size of the pot, from 2-3 times/week to every day. Humidity is good and may make watering less frequent, but you just plain do have to water more often outside. It's easier, tho-- just use the hose.

2. Re thunderstorms. The wind can turn over pots and with s/h pots, turned over often means pebbles and plants all over the place. And plants out of their pots-- which is which? Really a big, big mess. Do yourself a favor and write the orchids name in indelible marker on the underside of one of the leaves. That way you'll have fewer NOIDs after a storm. I would try to shelter them from an intense storm -- if you have time before the storm, move them under the eaves or onto the ground from raised shelves. Or even just put them into big heavy clay pots. Hail is the killer here-- shreds leaves. Protect from this.

3. Several days of rain. The several days of steady rain can be a problem, but very much less so with s/h. The biggest problem with several days of rain is that rots of various kind can start with the dim wet. Cold wet always = bad. Dim wet, too. I deal with that by keeping a dilute solution of Physan 20 in a spray bottle. When there are several days of steady rain, I use any opportunity to go around the orchids, sop up the water from any crevices with the rolled up corner of a paper napkin and then spray the plant with the Physan 20. New growths are especially susceptible because the tissue is so tender, and need more attention.

Physan 20 is a contact anti-bacterial/anti-fungal and will protect the plants from rots for a couple of days. If the rain goes on for more than 2-3 days, repeat.

If you can provide a rigid cover, that is good. A soft cover like a sheet of plastic, no matter how carefully you think it's attached, won't do the job. The rain will collapse it.

4. Excessive heat. When there is a real heat wave, like the one we had here for the last ten days (broke last night), give more shade, and give it earlier in the day.

The other thing that I do is to use Dyna-grow ProTekT. Last summer during the intense heat periods I found the newest leaves so tender and floppy that just lifting the plant sometimes would cause it to break off. I read that ProTekT gave protection against heat stress, orther orchid growers recommended it, so I tried it. And have been using it ever since. This last heat wave lasted for 10 days, and was a real test. I didn't have any floppy new leaves at all. The old leaves are tough as nails, and the new leaves ore tender but much, much tougher than last year. I do recommend this for protecting outdoor plants, and the product doesn't cost that much. Also makes the leaves less palatable to sucking insects-- a bonus.


How much to water and how much sun to give is an empirical question for each situation, and I find it very hard to get it just right. Over several years you sort of figure it out a little better each year, with many mistakes on the way. At least, that's been my experience.

However, I still think growing outside in summer offers enough benefits to be worth any problems you encounter (and solve) along the way.

[syndywindy]

Wow! That is alot of information you gave and I appreciate every bit of it. I'm gonna disagree with you again however. I'm not so sure Chicago is that much cooler than St Louis! I just hate the thought of screwing something up and having my orchids suffer because of it. But I guess if I don't try, I'll never know. Where do I get the ProTekT? Sounds like it's needed for our hot humid summers. Another question- Do the orchids take to being outside right away? And when you bring them back indoors for the winter, is this done gradually? Normally I jump right in, so I guess I just have to go for it and see wahat happens. thanks Mehitabel for all that info. I'm sure I will refer to it often.

[patticake]

Basically, water them when the mix starts to dry or the reservoir at the bottom gets low.

[mehitabel]

Syndy, if you have a hydroponics store in your area, call and ask whether they carry Dyna Gro products. The hydroponics people know everything about plant chemicals and are stocked to the gills with them I get mine from Worm's Way which is nearby. I'd be surprised if there weren't several of them in Chicago.

Screwing up? You're bound to make mistakes while you're learning the limits of your outdoor situation and how your plants adapt to it. Mistakes are just part of the process. Believe me, I still miscalculate, and burn some phals every spring. If I moved, I'd have to learn my new place's limits as well.

You have to make a lot of judgment calls and it took me several years before I didn't angst out over it every summer. But you're a great gardener, and your instincts will be right.

Putting outside in one go. Yes, I do. Inside in one go in fall as well. HOWEVER, don't give them sun right away. Too, too hot. Put them out in full shade, then move them closer to the light in a couple of days. After a couple of days, give them 15', the next day 30', then just double it each day til you reach the plant's limit.

This last heat wave, I was giving my phals shade from 8AM til sundown. Just too, too hot for any sun on them. However, now that it's cooled down, the shade goes on at 9:30, and I use less shade. Just be conservative about sun this time of year, especially for newly-outside plants. They're *tender*.

The temperature in the sun is always a lot hotter. During the heat wave, at 8AM, the thermometer on the wall read 80F. In the sun the thermometer read 96F. At 8AM. On my carts, under 92% shade it got to 100 or even more at midafternoon, but I knew they were okay because sticking my arm under the shade it felt only warm, not burny, and the leaves weren't excessively warm.

And BTW, the other reason for putting them out for the summer is that they are so messy. I get to where I just need a vacation from the mess they create.

[syndywindy]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

And BTW, the other reason for putting them out for the summer is that they are so messy. I get to where I just need a vacation from the mess they create.

I do have a hydroponics store nearby. I will definately check it out. Alot of good tips you gave me and I appreciate it. I hope I get to the point where I don't angst over it.Just a little longer walk to check on them. I do like the less messy part. Anything I can do to avoid extra work/cleaning, count me in!