If i put the orchids ouside for first time.....

[LovePhals]

I am doing something similar. I left my vandas out for most of the week and saw a lot of new root growth. Although I've had success blooming them in a sunny window, I think they enjoy the outdoors. I also have 2 Dendrobiums outside, but I will bring them back in when it starts to get really hot though going off suggestions from OB members. Whenever it is cool I always open the windows for some temp variation for all my windowsill orchids that will not go outside. These are my favorites that I don't want foliage or bug damage to! I ended up giving a few of those away though, my huge paph and phal.

[tarev]

I only have one Vanda, Vanda coerulea..and I dip this one in our fountain especially during our heat wave days. Like yesterday, most areas got 106F...my particular location always goes beyond a bit..we got 110F..

[cbuchman]

I summer mine orchids outdoors on on benches on my back patio which is sahded by several large tress so there are different areas with different levels of light. They love it. A couple of things I do:

• When the temps are high, I bring cool temp guys into the house to enjoy the air conditioning until the heat wave passes. For some orchids, high temps, mean that new growth will blacken and die....
• When it is hot, I wet down the cement patio underneath the orchids to help cool the air.
• When we get lots of rain, I have a party tent that goes up to keep the orchids from getting too wet. 5 days of rain is too much. We're in such a pattern right now, and yup the tent is up.
• if we get a shower, I will use a paper towel and wipe out any water in crowns, new growths etc.
• my Phals and other shady monopedials are under a plexiglass "roof" to keep direct rain out.
• Because everything is growing furiously, I feed whenever I water.
• In the Fall, I bring them in based on their night temp requirements.
• I check for bugs before I bring them back inside in the fall. My biggest bug problems is slugs and I have to be really careful not to bring any in. I use small dishes of beer after everything is inside, just in case I miss one. If you submerge a pot in water for a few minutes, the slimy buggers come to the surface where they are nabbed and disposed of.

[LovePhals]

Tarev- glad your Vanda Coerulea is still doing well, you got that for the Vanda grow project a while back right? My Manuvadee is doing well also (I couldn't find the Coerulea) but, it hasn't bloomed. I am thinking about getting it from Hausermann's- I saw they have it.

[tarev]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

Tarev- glad your Vanda Coerulea is still doing well, you got that for the Vanda grow project a while back right? My Manuvadee is doing well also (I couldn't find the Coerulea) but, it hasn't bloomed. I am thinking about getting it from Hausermann's- I saw they have it.

Yes, it is the one for the Vanda growing project. It is in active root growing mode right now or just putting out new leaves.

[butterfly_muse]

This has been super informative, as I'm looking to put my orchids outside too. I just had a question regarding spraying against nasties and rain? It has been raining for the last 2 weeks, almost every single day here. What is a good way to apply anti-nasty spray without it washing off (or is there not one)?

Also, I have a northeast facing house, so the windows here aren't enough light for my cattleyas & oncidium. I noticed that one side of my patio gets early morning sun up until about 1ish in the afternoon. If I put the catts & oncid out there, would that be enough for them? Or is the direct morning sun too much?

Sorry in advance if I'm threadjacking, OP! I just didn't want to make a thread asking similar questions to this one. ^^; Heh!

[My Green Pets]

butterfly_muse, i think that sun for your oncids and catts would be ok up till about 11 but after that they will need some protection from that high noon sun. Watch the area when you are home on a sunny day and find a place where the shadow will creep over them before 11:30-12.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

butterfly_muse, i think that sun for your oncids and catts would be ok up till about 11 but after that they will need some protection from that high noon sun. Watch the area when you are home on a sunny day and find a place where the shadow will creep over them before 11:30-12.

Thank you! I know just that happens on my patio. Now I have to get creative and find some way to get them out there while keeping them off the ground, lol.

[Cntry]

Show us your shade house, we want ideas to. hehehehe

Butterfly, use a small plant stand. Where in Maryland are you I live in Baltimore Co. Will the rain ever seem to stop.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Cntry

Show us your shade house, we want ideas to. hehehehe

Butterfly, use a small plant stand. Where in Maryland are you I live in Baltimore Co. Will the rain ever seem to stop.

I'm in Anne Arundel, and no, the rain is just going and going and going and GOING. I found a plant stand on Ikea's website that is perfect for the amount of orchids I have and that side of my patio. Our front stoop is like a step and then there's brick on either side, but there's a tree directly to the right of the house so the area that gets morning sun with dappled mid-morning shade is like..the edge of our step. o_O It's awkward placing, but. Oh well.