Orchids outdoors in summer - what do you do about rain?

[Angurek]

I actually look forward to rainy days because I don't have to water my plants. The weather here is a little crazy during the summer rainy season - it is hot and dry in the morning, and very rainy in the afternoon on most days.

I have a lot of water-loving orchids, so excess moisture isn't a problem. But as someone already said, if you have a plant that likes to dry out, bring it inside or put it where it cannot get wet.

[Call_Me_Bob]

i have my catts alliances in media that i have to water everyday, so when it rains, i get the day off

[Royal]

I've taken advantage of rainy summers for about ten years or so, but there are potential pitfalls.

1. As everyone has stated, a chunkier medium that is quicker to dry out is crucial for the rainy season. The problem here is that you're stuck with a "dry" medium for the other 6-8 months of the year. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is an inconvenience to me.

2. Rot comes in many forms. It's not just the medium/roots that you have to worry about. Just like water in crown of a Phal can be trouble, water collecting and sitting in the crown of other types is also dangerous. I have had more new growths rot this year than any other year I can remember. It's heartbreaking.

3. Bugs, hail, bugs, falling branches, bugs, wind, etc.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

I've taken advantage of rainy summers for about ten years or so, but there are potential pitfalls.

1. As everyone has stated, a chunkier medium that is quicker to dry out is crucial for the rainy season. The problem here is that you're stuck with a "dry" medium for the other 6-8 months of the year. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is an inconvenience to me.

2. Rot comes in many forms. It's not just the medium/roots that you have to worry about. Just like water in crown of a Phal can be trouble, water collecting and sitting in the crown of other types is also dangerous. I have had more new growths rot this year than any other year I can remember. It's heartbreaking.

3. Bugs, hail, bugs, falling branches, bugs, wind, etc.

other than phal crowns and cym leads, what can rot?

i am having an annoyance because i have to run out and bring my whole shelf of phals under the carport everytime it rains. but they are outside only temporarily

[Royal]

Originally Posted by help

other than phal crowns and cym leads, what can rot?

Anything! New growths on lots of types will hold water. I grow mostly Catts, and the water can sometimes get underneath the outermost layer (that turns papery brown when mature). One day it's a healthy new p-bulb and the next it's folded in half because it rotted from the bottom up. It really bad situations, I've had the rot spread into the rhizome. I had to un-pot it and cut away lots of the plant's growths. Wost case, well, you know.

[stefpix]

if the phals are mounted with the crown pointing downwards as they grow in nature they would not rot.

if it is 90 F outside I am sure the water would dry fast. I spent time in Miami just before I got into growing stuff and I remember in the summer it would rain so often most afternoon and most evenings but in the morning the streets looked dry.
And the rain often was a a flood.
I remember seeing phals hanging in pots attached on trees in courtyards. I do not believe people would move them in and out all the time...

[peeweelovesbooks]

I pot the plants in 100% hydroton and they do fine year round, even in the heavy rains. When it rains non-stop for more than 3 days or so I bring the plants inside to allow them to dry out. Otherwise, out they go.

[britbloke]

This is my first year growing in Florida, with regular summer rains so I'm still developing my techniques. I was told early, use quick draining media, clay pots where possible and add extra drainage slits/holes. I use lave rock & clay pots w/extra holes. I let the rain leach the pots and probably fertilize more regularly because of that leaching. If it doesn't rain for 2 days, I fertilize. I'm expecting our dryer winter, will coincide with lower watering needs and expect to have to water maybe once/week (Catts). The Vanda's get rain and/or spraying (with or without fertilizer at least once a day.
I have my pots on a trellis and have a small canopy of plexiglass to shield pots from two many days of consecutive rain, but I have yet to use it.

[stefpix]

Encyclia tampensis is native of Florida and many other orchids grow in the wild... they do not rot with the heavy Florida rains.

I would try to imitate what happens in nature. maybe use a wide and shallow clay pot half filled with CHC and LECA... something that can drain fast. Or mount them.

[got ants]

It may just be coincidence, but it seems to me that those flowering catts I see at the local shows are either mounted and grown outside, or potted and grow commercially like under plastic.

Since I grow outside ONLY, I'm learning to use fungicide more frequently.

My Enc Tampensis rarely get anything from me, maybe an occasional water/fert-ing. Never gets fungicide, and they do great. Catts on the other hand, I struggle with, along with oncidiums, cyrtopodiums, tolumnias, schomburkias, and vandas.

Phaleanopsis', well lets just say I murder them.