Putting Orchids Outside

[Cindy K]

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner (I hope!!). Just wondering which families of orchids would benefit from a vacation outside for the summer? Are there any that you should never put outside? I have at least one from almost each family and was thinking that some may benefit from the humid summer heat.
Thanks in advance for any responses!
-Cindy

[Ross]

I am one that will not be moving orchids out for summer. Last summer they were in a hail storm and it slaughtered the leaves of many of the 'chids (Phals in particular). I have good growing conditions inside so will just leave them as they are.

[khill]

I keep my orchids outside all year under a covered lanai. Of course, I am in SW FL with weather that allows that. I would think a covered area would protect them and that they would really benefit. I have cattleyas, dendrobiums, asocendas, epidendrums and phals.

[L I Jane]

Cindy, I've put my plants out every summer since 1977 when I started growing.3/4 of them go in dappled shade & other sun lovers are slowly transitioned into growing in stronger light when they go out.I live on L Island .This year I'm not putting up a tent as in the past as my trees have gotten so big.Hubby is making me canopies to put over my tables to prevent water from collecting in crowns of my phrags & paphs.I tried just 1 of them last year & they worked out well he made me 5 more as sometimes we can have rain every day & little sun for a week or more.Sure rain can whip in the sides but the crowns stay dry.They are made of rippled fiberglass & PVC pipe.I used a tent for years with screening on all sides.I use bread trays to put my pots in so they don't fall over in the wind as they have high sides.My mtd plants all hang from screening behind the tables.Everything does fairly well but masd are touchy as they like cooler but as soon as they go back in the greenhse they take off again.I keep them darker for coolness.

[Lagoon]

I do love having many of my orchids outside during the warmer months. Speaking of slaughtered, I took a good loss of 'chids last year due to the small wild animals here, chewing and eating them up. Even the birds took of with loads of sphag moss, guess they use it to help build their nests

The storms we're real bad last year - I watched 'chids get swung around, tossed and turn from sudden freak storms.
I do grow outside on my balo with shading, and will check much more often this summer and not trust that mother nature will provide with what is always needed - She got pretty cranky last year, LOL!

[DebsC]

I've moved my orchids (mostly catts) from the sunroom to a wire top table every spring for many years. The table is positioned in the shade of a large Oak tree.

The light outside is much stronger than inside even when it looks shady. So be very careful not to burn tender leaves. Start with deeper shade and gradually move them to brighter light.

Raccoons got into to my chids one year and really tore them up!! I had used fish emulsion and they were looking for the booty!

Also, grasshoppers move in here in mid summer and can really do a lot of damage fast!! They love tender new growth and buds and flowers.

Any bug or insect you see on nearby rose bushes or other yard plants can and will invade your orchids.

Still, the chids enjoy their summer vacation under the trees. Even tho I now have a greenhouse, I still let the vandas, cymbidiums and a few catts go outside. I really think they'd all love to go out and play!

[mother_earth]

I have been putting mine out on the E. facing covered front porch for years. I set the catt's on the railing to get the most sun, the den's like sun to. I set the oncidiums and other thin leaf ones along the floor on the north side of the porch so they can enjoy the humidity and light without much direct sun. I keep the phals inside as they burn very easy. I've been carting them in and out untill the nights warm up some. Brenda