Moving orchids outside

[unique562]

I'm thinking about moving my orchids outside I live in SW Ohio and the temp is in the mid to upper 90's during the day and lower 70's at night. Is that to hot for the dendro's and phal's? They would be in full shade, is that enough light? Should I worry about bugs, or would i be better off leaving them inside?

[Ross]

Temps are probably OK because, unless you have central air, that's what they'd get anyway. I think "full shade" may be acceptable for Phals, but Dendros normally need higher light - not full sun, but higer light. Yes I would worry about bugs, but then I worry a lot about my 'chids so I watch them constantly. Interesting thing is - when mine were outside the Encyclia tampensis was pollinated constantly!

[smweaver]

Putting your orchids outdoors for the summer is an excellent idea. I live in central Indiana, and we share the same general weather conditions you have in Ohio. My plants are all outside right now, and the majority won't be coming back inside until mid-October (the exceptions will be the truly warm-growing equatorial species that seem to resent the cooler conditions we'll start to experience in early fall). Your phalaenopsis will probably especially enjoy our sauna-like conditions--as long as you keep them out of the sun. The dendrobiums, as the previous respondent mentioned, will appreciate more light. Most of my plants get full sun between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Afterwards, they get "bright shade" due to the sun being blocked by the house. That's quite a bit of direct sun, and the only reason they're able to take it now is because I've been acclimatizing them to the higher light levels since April, when they all started to go out. I would suggest that even for the higher-light loving dendrobiums, you gradually introduce them to more sunlight in increments. Moving even a high-light loving plant that's accustomed to shadier conditions abruptly to higher light levels is asking for trouble. At first, try, perhaps, an hour each morning for a week, then move up to two hours for the second or third week, and so forth. If you do this, however, bear in mind that they'll require more fertilizer and more frequent waterings than they would if they stayed in relatively shady conditions. Mine get watered every morning--even the plants like Cattleya walkeriana and amethystoglossa that like to dry out between waterings--with reverse osmosis water that I add a very dilute amount of fertilizer to (1/10 teaspoon per gallon--once a week they get a much higher dose of fertilizer). The growing season (I think) is considered the "rainy season" in most of the areas where Cattleyas and Dendrobiums (among others) are native. So they're used to being doused with lots of water at this time of year. As far as bugs go, insects generally only pester my orchids when they're in flower. The leaves on many of them seem a bit too hard to be very appetizing; but the flowers are bug magnets and can quickly become choice dinner salads for your neighborhood beetle population (just bring them inside to enjoy them when the buds open). Good luck with your project. I think you'll find that your plants will tend to be a lot more vigorous if they're summered outdoors during our hot and humid Midwest summers.

[dave b]

I live in Dayton Ohio, and put most of my orchids out for the summer. They are on a upper level balcony, south facing, under big trees. I get early morning sun, a mid day blast due to gaps in the trees, then late evening sun. Otherwise shade. The mid day blast can be very dangerous and i keep many plants under the awning or under a shelf for protection. Ive pushed them all out against the rail in my pics just for display. Even plants that can take some full sun, need acclimated in the beginning, especially mid day sun. It is far more intense than anything plants kept indoors have experienced. Starting in full shade, then creeping higher light plants into brighter light is a great start.

Bugs--you'll get them. I get ants and earwhigs mostly. Flys and bees and wasps of all sorts. Praying mantis have hung out at times. And best of all, i see from time to time Running Predatory Mites. These are good guys. They look like bright red very small spiders that move very quickly. The feed on other 'bad' mites.

In the late fall when plants come in, i will completely submerse the pots in water to flood out some of the critters hiding in the pots. They scurry out pretty quick.

You will discover that many plants dry out much more quickly outdoors due to the great amount of air movement. You may have to adjust your watering accordingly, but its worth it.

The most important thing during the really hot spells is more shade and air movement. Next week they are calling for 95 deg temps. This is HOT for many orchids, and they should be protected from scorching sun especially during these times.

Im having photo upload issues via Photobucket, and will post them later.

[cb977]

If you have the option of putting the 'chids out for the summer, I say do it! The temps you have are fine, you'll just have to watch your placement of the plants...take note of the sun's pattern throughout the day before starting and you'll have a general idea of where they should go. Once they're out there, you can always "fine-tune" their placement.
The bugs (and squirrels...critters, in general) are something you'll have to keep an eye on.

[IowaOrchid]

I live in Iowa and this is the second year that I have put my plants outside. I have a huge array of plants with differant cultures but they all seem to thrive. I put my sun lovers on a self that is far out enough that they get direct sun until 1:00, I have another self that gets sun until about 11:00. This is for the ones that like a little sun. My shade lovers are on a shelf up against the side of the house and even they get very early sun until about 9:00 in the morning and then a little through the trees around 6:00. I foliar feed them 6 days a week with a fish emulsion or sea weed extract. The seventh day they get a regular feeding with either a balanced 20-20-20 or a bloom booster, according to who is going to bloom. I've got a lot of new growth and a lot of bloom spikes and I would never leave them in during the summer. Every one likes a vacation now and then.

Julie

[dave b]

Follow up to my earlier post. heres the orchids outside.





By the way...are you already a member of the Cincy Orchid Society? If not, i encourage you to check it out. They meet monthly at the Civic Gardens Center on Reading Rd. Some really good growers in that society.

[Palito]

most commercially available orchids thrive being outside all spring and summer enjoying the longer days and warm temperature. It's the easiest and cheapest way to provide the energy they need. They grow much faster and bloom better.

Most can't take direct sun, but a few thrive under high light like vandas and large cattleyas. even some intergenerics. I have an onc. 'sweet sugar' adapted to full scorching sun and it's growing like a weed.