Outside Care - Orchid Board

sailor · #1 05-03-2007, 12:28 AM

OK, Spring has sprung and all my orchids are outside under a grape arbor/gazebo. Good light, but not too much. Great air circulation. Since most of my collection is in S/H I can water more freely now and flush things out more often. My biggest concern is the late afternoon showers that we get on a regular basis. In fact, it's almost midnight and raining right now.

When growing inside I have avoided misting in the evening because of fear of mold and fungus. How does everyone everyone deal with outdoor moisture problems? Do I need to bring out the Physan-20 or am I overthinking this?

Djarum Black · #2 05-03-2007, 12:41 AM

You know something that really work for me, depending on how I am arranging plants. I mount or hang things upside down. The orchids seem to love the position and it really helps to avoid crownrot and excess moisture. Even tilting some plants in pots so the orchid can rid itself of excess water really helps. Some of my orchids started doing that on their own in pots and on mounts so I just took their lead.

smweaver · #3 05-04-2007, 12:38 AM

I move my collection outside every summer and have found that as long as the temperatures stay fairly warm (not falling below the low 60's at night) and I don't overcrowd the plants on the benches, overwatering isn't a huge problem, especially if you have plants that come from monsoon areas of the world that are seasonally very wet anyway. I live in the Midwest and it rains a lot here also during the warm months; in addition, the humidity gets very high as well. The only plants that I've had that seem to need watching carefully when they get too wet are the members of the Catasetinae group--but that's mainly right now when their new growths are either just starting or still very small. As soon as they get taller than three or four inches and starting pushing out lots of new roots, they'll take all of the water you (or nature) can throw their way. What kind of orchids do you grow--and where are you (geographically speaking)?

sailor · #4 05-05-2007, 02:02 AM

I have about 160 orcs mostly in s/h. Lots of catt alliance, dends, some oncs and cymbs. 10 mounted Vandas that are DEFINITELY loving the sun and rain.

20 slippers that I have not moved outside.

Kentucky. 2" of rain today, another inch tomorrow.

Ray · #5 05-05-2007, 10:42 AM

Any time you move your plants out into "the elements" you give up some of the control you had, and are leaving them at the whim of nature.

Heavy, continued rains, coupled with the higher incidence of mold spores and bacteria, can certainly lead to rot. The comment about having lots of air flow is a good one, as that can actually lessen the problem considerably.

dave b · #6 05-06-2007, 01:06 AM

Occasionally id get paranoid and go out after some rains and pour out water pooled in my phals crowns to speed up drying. Otherwise, i just let them go. The amount of air movement is the thing i like the most. It is constant. even during the most stagnant times, its still moving. All of my orchids grow great during the summer months outdoors. i dont have a greenhouse, so they rough it out over the winter (just as i do) anxiously awaiting warm weather again.

Watching for hitchhiker bugs when bringing them back in the Fall will be your next adventure.

Don Perusse · #7 05-26-2007, 01:35 PM

I live in SW Ga. and do put some orchids outside in a shade house from Mar-Aug, but only the Ascon., vandas, oncidiums, cymbidiums and Phais. They all love the filtered sun and excellant air movement. I do use Physan once a month and Neem oil only when necessary. I don't have a bug problem inside the grn hse or out. However, the key I think is a fan running 24/7.