Keeping orchids outside during summer

[scy]

I've read that it's a good idea to have cymbidiums outside once the threat of frost is gone. I can see the advantages, but what has deterred me is the threat of pests (animals, insects, etc) and not knowing what to do in terms of outdoor care. Currently I just added a cymbidium to my collection, and it's the biggest one I own. It's in an 8" pot but all the leaves fan out to about 12". It's sitting in front of eastern facing deck door.

If I do put it outside on my deck (eastern facing), can I let it sit out in the sun? What do you do when it rains? I know with phals, I have to worry about not getting water in the crown. Is this something that I need to be careful about for cyms too? I know it's impossible to keep it insect free outdoors, so what do you do when it's time to bring it back inside before the first frost? I don't want to worry about any insect infestation in the house and getting to my other orchids. Are there any preventative measures I can take?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for any advice you can provide.

[WhiteRabbit]

my cyms get full sun all morning
you shouldn't need to worry about rain - mine sit out in the elements - it doesn't rain in summer here usually, but it does in winter, and my cyms are out in the cold night time rain with no problems arising from it

I can't advise on how best to make sure you don't bring pests indoors with the plant - I leave the cyms out year-round - I do bring other plants inside in fall, but usually don't have any pest problems. I'm sure others can help you out with that

gl

[RosieC]

My Cyms sit out in the rain all the time. The only problem is fertilising because if they get too much rain I don't really want to water them again myself (I've bought slow release stuff to use on them this year).

I didn't try it with the Cyms last year, but I used coffee on my Oncs and Dens when I brought them in last year. I soaked the root mass for about 1/2 hour in cold coffee... all the critters evacuated the medium because they didn't like it. All the orchids that came in from either the greenhouse or outside had a soak in it. I didn't do the Cyms because they moved from outside, into the greenhouse so I didn't bother.

[jrodpad]

Rosie,

Coffee? Regular coffee? I've never heard of this before. So, you make a pot of regular drip coffee, let it get room temperature and then soak the plant in it? Awesome tip - let us know if there's anything special that is missing.

Thanks.

-J

[RosieC]

Yeap, regular coffee.

I used instance coffee, but I've heard people talking about leaving the coffee grounds around the pot as well so I think any sort is fine. I made up the instant with cold water, but I think with drip coffee you would need the hot to get it to infuse properly, then cool it down.

I saw tips on here about it and I think it originally came from First Ray's website tips. Slugs don't like it and it might even kill their eggs in the medium (not sure about that) but I found nothing like it and everything came crawling out for me to pick off (centipedes and earwigs were the ones accompanying my slugs). I've not had any noticeable creepy crawly problem all winter since I brought them in.

[Eyebabe]

Coffee is acidic and will bring pH down. It is excellent for hydrangeas if you want them to bloom blue!
Just take your spent coffee grounds and toss them on the ground around your hydrangeas and rain will do the rest.
Not sure about coffee for orchids though and will defer to those with experience.

Cym's almost need to go outside if you are going to get the temperature swings necessary for them to rebloom....having never rebloomed one myself, take it for what it's worth
Seriously though, I've tried one season and my plant is still alive but didn't bloom. It may be too young yet.
I consulted with "cym people" and their advice was solid: sit it outside in bright shade from Mother's day until October if possible (above 40F)
Inside for the winter (where I think I overwatered it)
Unless of course you have a greenhouse that you keep for especially for them
Household temps do not swing widely enough for them to rebloom.
My greenhouse is warm and I plan on putting my cym back outside this week or next

[Paul Mc]

Rosie, so after you use coffee, do you flush or change the medium so the orchids and plants don't sit in the absorbed coffee?

[RJSquirrel]

remember orchids get a biscotti too with they coffee

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Rosie, so after you use coffee, do you flush or change the medium so the orchids and plants don't sit in the absorbed coffee?

Yes I flushed with plain water afterwards. As I remember I actually soaked in plain water first so the roots were full of that, then did the coffee soak, then did a plain water flush. I think the roots probably absorbed some but the soak first will have minimised that.

[Paul Mc]

Do you think this will work for fungus gnats as well? Have a fungas gnat issue at the moment I've been battling and fear I'm losing, lol... I'll try anything at this point. I've even repotted everything and still have issues.