Can you tell me which need cool fall outside?

[MattWoelfsen]

How about this idea? Can you build a cage large enough to house your orchids? You can surround the cage with screen. I'm considering this idea myself. I have a north facing patio. Half of the patio is in full sun all day long. My Cattleya alliance plants would benefit from some of that sun but it is too sunny. So I'm planning to create a little shade house with 50% light block screen. This shade house would be large enough to put one, four shelf, plastic etagere inside--the kind you can buy at a big box store for US$25.00. You are so fortunate to live in humid environment, as most of your plants like high humidity.

[Optimist]

Well you could get something like a bakers stand and build a frame over it. You could get an old book shelf and then screen that in. I forget that everyone is not handy with hammer and nails like I am. A nice thing to use is a big dog sized wire kennel. I bought one once for 15 dollars. Then use smaller mesh screen over that. How to put the mesh together? Hand sew it with fishing line. Another way to go about it is to use PVC pipe and make a cube. It can be as large or small as you like. Then make the screen cover for that. People make entire green houses with PVC pipe. There are youtube videos about building with pvc pipe.

[mimigirl]

What!!! So many great ideas! I can handle a few of these! Thanks to both of you for great suggestions! I took a pic in my ipad of these ideas.....

[mimigirl]

MattWoelfsen and Optimist-if these orchids have been inside, will they be ok out in the new orleans heat and humidity? The temps get to upper 90's and the humidity can be the same. Do i need to put them out gradually to slowly expose them? I am liking these ideas.

[RosieC]

Take a look at this thread where people have been adding which of their orchids get's a cool rest for a while now. It's a long thread, but it you are trying to build up a list it's a good place to go.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...nter-rest.html

[MattWoelfsen]

Hi mimigirl! Most orchids can and do enjoy warm, humid air BUT I'm speaking of orchids that are readily available in big box stores, groceries, home improvement centers. Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Oncidium are some of my orchids that I have growing outside. These enjoy warm, humid air. I do not think they'll need an interim period going from inside to outside. What I do when I move my plants from inside to outside, I pick a day where inside temps is equal to outside temps. Then I move them, the shock in temperature changes might blast flower buds. Caution should be taken when you are introducing the plants from indoor light to outside light. That change in light can cause leaf burn.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

The unicum needs a dry rest, but not a cold one.

I thought unicum flowers best with cool (maybe not cold) rest. hence I got dendrobium lamyaiae, which has similar flowers.