Weather in MI

[Rhonda Svoboda]

This summer has proven challenging for orchid growth. The first half of June we had a severe drought with 90-96 degree heat.
Now we have flood conditions. We've received our entire average rainfall for the month of June in 4 days. We're forcast to have heavy rain everyday for at least the next 8 days.
Its been warm but now I am concerned about my orchids. They're all outside. Do I need to worry about rot at this point? My Catt's are potted in a catt. mix but my phals and Miltonia's along with others are in a spaghman mix.
I already battled a rot problem over the winter and don't want to go through that again.
Should I bring them in?
So far they look ok but my Phal. Guadalupe Pineda looks like its rot issue is comming back- or perhaps it never went away. I really love that orchid but I don't know if its salavgeable at this point.

[estación seca]

I'd bring the ones potted in mostly sphagnum inside. It's not so much a water issue as it is an issue of not enough air at the roots. Soggy sphagnum has very little air.

Those in chunky bark will be OK with several weeks of very wet weather. Those in medium or fine bark - if you can bring them in and put a fan on them, I would do that.

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Thank You !!!

[estación seca]

To grow orchids in pots is a compromise. If we had plenty of time to care for every plant, I think the best for most mature plants would be to grow them in very large chunks of scoria, cinders, LECA, wine corks or bark, and water them every day. Unfortunately most of us work, and can't look at our plants every day. Potting methods that let us go longer between watering can be a problem when there's too much rain.

Remember epiphytic orchids in habitat have roots exposed to air. These roots are moist to wet throughout the growing season, with no drying off periods. The notion orchids need to dry between waterings comes from growing them in pots in inhospitable climates.

As an aside, orchids in semihydroponics would probably grow better if outdoors during times of heavy rainfall. They have plenty of air at the roots and all the rain would keep their roots nice and moist.

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Thanks for the info!!

[Leafmite]

Add extra Calcium. One year when it was constantly rainy here, most everyone in my orchid society that grew outside lost Cattleyas and other orchids due too fungus/bacterial issues but I was fine with all my extra Calcium. With this being the growing season, the roots should be fine.

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Thanks. I've just ordered a good Cal Mag supplement for them. I noticed a few months ago that some of my orchids had splotchy leaves due to insufficent cal;mag. I checked on my plants this morning and they are not only doing fine but many absolutely LOVE this humidity and rain.
Update: Grand Rapids, MI received 6.9" of rain in 3 days. I guess we now have a monsoon season