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

[My Green Pets]

Here's a photo of my under-the-willow-tree outdoor growing area. You can see that, the further from the center of the tree, the more light the plants get, although all the light is 'dappled' through the leaves of the tree.

[swh265]

Thank you for all of the great information. I live in Washington DC and its around mid 90's during the summer. I have a question about but blast. If a phal in early buds are left outside in full shade and brought back inside in the afternoon (mid 70's), would that cause bud blast?

I read that cooler temperatures in the evening and warmer temperatures during the day with higher than normal light levels can increase the number of booms. Any personal experience? What is an acceptable gradient?

[lotis146]

I can't really speak on bud blast due to the warmer temps but I would think that during such heat air circulation will play a major role in making the plant happy. I also can't speak to making them flower more, I think it depends on the species/hybrid whether they need the change in temps, more light, or both.

Mostly I wanted to share that I left a bunch of my guys outside during the rain for 4-5 days then brought back in. During that time the evening temps did drop to the 50s. Yesterday I put them back outside during a thunderstorm (on and off again) mainly to water them and decided to leave out. This was the first time I put some Phals outside due to my being afraid rain will cause crown rot, I guess we'll see. But I can say that my Paph. 'President Fred' was in bloom with a second bud developing and now both are sitting open and pretty out there. My Paph. Odette's Vision is almost in double spike; Miltonia I think is developing a spike, and my Paph. Lebaudyanum looks to be developing a sheath as well. Others show some new growth, and my Tolumnia Buck Hollow's remaining flower appears brighter with richer reds and yellows.

I have heard others say they like at least a 10 degree drop in temps which sometimes in these temps is hard for me to maintain but I have had some Phals with buds still come through without much cooling off. Really though the spiking I'm seeing follows my plants time outside where they've gotten rain water, more air circulation, more temperature change (but also hotter days), cooler nights, and perhaps a bit more light. Again, 4 days the first time, two cloudy days this time.