Outside Orchids in Texas - Orchid Board

lindad3406 · #1 08-13-2007, 05:03 PM

I keep reading about putting orchids outside with some protection from sun in the summer. I live in North Central Texas where it gets HOT in the summer with low to moderate humidity. We have been blessed this year with wonderful weather ( excluding the excess rain earlier) but now we are in our typical weather pattern. The temps right now are 100 and above. I would think not good for plants. What temp range would be good for outside? I have catts, phals and 1 ascocenda. Right now, all are on a shelf in a sunroom window.

Ross · #2 08-13-2007, 05:13 PM

I wonder why all the interest to place orchids outside?

I can understand it if I were to live, say, in Florida, or the tropics. But to move them outside then back in doesn't do them any good (in my opinion). I have lost a large collection of Phals (one with 5 spikes of blossoms and 3 crowns of leaves in a 10" pot) to hail. I also have seen aphids swarm onto the blossoms and spikes. I no longer even think of any of my 'chids going outside and I have had better growth this year than any year I can recall. Just my 2 cents.

quiltergal · #3 08-13-2007, 06:49 PM

I also live in a region that is hot and dry in the summer. Most days are 90+ with the occasional 100 degree day. My son put his chids outside one summer. It was a lot of work shlepping them outside with not so great results. The Odcdm and Milt fried, several others suffered severe set backs due to heat. He even had a mister set up to come on at noon. All plants were in the shade. When it was windy the tall top heavy ones blew over and some even fell off the table. We ended up with earwigs in the pots. Yuck! All in all I'd say there were no benefits from that experiment, and I'd never put my plants outside again. Now if I lived in Florida it might be a different story.

Tindomul · #4 08-13-2007, 06:51 PM

There are many who put their orchids outside for the warmer months, Jane for example, and she gets good results. So many of us are tempted to do the same, me included (if only I had an outside place to put them).

Lindad, I would be afraid to place plants in temps above 95, especially with low humidity. All I can say, is keep wateing them

and let us know how it goes.

lindad3406 · #5 08-13-2007, 08:13 PM

Thanks for all the input. I have not put mine outside as yet, and will not this summer. We were 104 yesterday and today with no let up in sight. I was inquiring for next year spring and early summer. I don't like the thought of the bugs and it makes sense that you could easily shock your orchids with the change. I am thinking I probably won't do it. I have one orchid now, that I just bought, a cattleya loddigesii harrisonian, that was a beauty when bought, but is looking a little worse for wear right now and I am thinking it is due to the change in climate and growing situation. I really hope it does bounce back.

Ross · #6 08-13-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindad3406

Thanks for all the input. I have not put mine outside as yet, and will not this summer. We were 104 yesterday and today with no let up in sight. I was inquiring for next year spring and early summer. I don't like the thought of the bugs and it makes sense that you could easily shock your orchids with the change. I am thinking I probably won't do it. I have one orchid now, that I just bought, a cattleya loddigesii harrisonian, that was a beauty when bought, but is looking a little worse for wear right now and I am thinking it is due to the change in climate and growing situation. I really hope it does bounce back.

I, personally, think there needs to be some reason why you want to move them outside. I realize their are folk who have limited light and the outside mightnimprove their chances at blossoms. But if you think orchids really love fresh air, they don't care (IMO). I think more people do harm than good by moving back and forth unless you really know what you are doing and why.

lindad3406 · #7 08-13-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsfrid

I, personally, think there needs to be some reason why you want to move them outside. I realize their are folk who have limited light and the outside mightnimprove their chances at blossoms. But if you think orchids really love fresh air, they don't care (IMO). I think more people do harm than good by moving back and forth unless you really know what you are doing and why.

I was just asking because I read it in a orchid book. I was looking for a reason why and why not. My last post said I probably won't do it. I just wonndered if anyone else with the same climate was doing it and what was their success rate. It sounds like not such a great idea. As I said, my Harrisonian has not like moving from the greenhouse which I got it from, to my windowsill in my sunroom, so I am seeing that they really don't like change

Ross · #8 08-13-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindad3406

As I said, my Harrisonian has not like moving from the greenhouse which I got it from, to my windowsill in my sunroom, so I am seeing that they really don't like change

My experience has been that just about any orchid "pouts" when you first get it. It might take as long as a couple months to pull out of the doldrums. I think it is just getting used to the new environment (even if your windowsill is close to original environment) and playing the "kid game" - do I like you or not?

Candice · #9 08-13-2007, 11:51 PM

I grow mine outdoors, and they grow like no other...but yes it is around the 100s now and I naturally have 70 to 80% humidity outside, so I have the environment to do so. I don't have ENOUGH light inside my home to grow the chids, that's why they are outside, and I have all phals, which like higher temps anyways. I am not an expert, but they grow just fine for me, and I have plenty of spiders around to take of the bugs, if any. I haven't had any problems with bugs to be honest. My chids have all put out one to two full leaves the past three months and LOTS of new root growth. None have croaked yet, so outside works for me...If I were to grow inside would probably be another story. Hope this helps, since I think I am the only one so far that has responded that prefers outside growing habitat....

quiltergal · #10 08-14-2007, 12:59 AM

Candice, I think when the RH is high like it is in AL you can get away with higher temps. When RH is below 40%and it's 100 outside it sucks the life right out of your plants literally. So if I lived in FL, all my plants would be outside in a shady spot.