When and what types do you take outside?

[Paul Mc]

Every fall I check the information I have on temperature variations for the various plants and leave them out until minumim temperatures are in jeopardy.

I was just curious what everyone else does.

I live in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by JaneEyre

Very interesting. This is a good subject as I have been wondering as well if I should take some of my orchids outside for the summer. What do you when it rains? Right now in Bay Area, CA it is predicted to rain for next two weeks. I know its a little too early to take orchids out now but it could rain during the summer. Do you have some sort of cover for the orchids outside?

Jane - I'm in San Jose, and have a number of orchids (catt alliance, some dens, some oncidium alliance, cyms) outside during winter, just watching for lows lower than mid-30s - tho true warm - hot growers stay inside. Except for cyms, I try to keep them out of the rain, when they are wet and cold at night, it leads to rot. I don't think rain in the summer is as worrisome, except maybe for phals getting water in crowns, but rain during summer is a rare occurrence. But, yeah - if your plants have been inside, I wouldn't advise sticking them out now.

[JaneEyre]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

...I don't think rain in the summer is as worrisome, except maybe for phals getting water in crowns, but rain during summer is a rare occurrence. But, yeah - if your plants have been inside, I wouldn't advise sticking them out now.

Ah, thanks for the reassurance. The idea of moving some orchids outside just opened up a shelf in the house for more Phals. I just have to wait till it warms up and stops raining.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by JaneEyre

Ah, thanks for the reassurance. The idea of moving some orchids outside just opened up a shelf in the house for more Phals. I just have to wait till it warms up and stops raining.

hehe - I can relate
I'm sure I would be told that it's too cold for a number of my plants, and maybe it's less than ideal, but doesn't seem to phase them (tho spikes grow extremely slow!), and I just don't have room enough inside.
I definitely watch the weather forecast for the overnight lows, plants with buds go in garage, near the house, if low temp is expected to be around 37 or less - when forecast low is expected to be 34 or lower, all except the cool growers go in the garage, and cool growers go up on the sheltered porch to be safe. Most are sheltered on porch or patio. I do avoid watering heavily during periods of low temps expected to be under 40.

Like I said, I'm sure most people wouldn't advise growing many of my orchids in these lower temps, but they've been ok - it may help that daytime temps are usually quite a bit warmer, and they aren't exposed to the low temps for too long. But - it is my intention now, that any new orchids either will need to be, and stay, quite small, or be ones that are known to tolerate lower temps well.

[lightseeker01]

I am in SE Pennsylvania and have phals growing inside in a windowsill garden. I have gotten all to rebloom nicely. Would putting them outside greatly benefit them? Attracting insects is a worry of mine and wonder if it is worth the risk.

[fotofashion]

I just have to put all my orchids outside when warm weather comes. I have over 250 plants from different types. The GH gets too hot. Yesterday it got well above 100 degrees and I have a decent ventilation setup. My Phals are still inside, though, but with the brutal temps this year they need to go out too.
My normal concern with Phals is getting water in the crown when it rains. Not to worry this year. It just rained a little bit this afternoon for the first time since mid January.
Beverly A.