So who's put their plants out already?

[cbuchman]

And don't forget this is prime growing time for your orchids, so increase your fertilizer accordingly! I find that mine respond well to a small increase in fertilizer starting in April and continuing through August or even September if it stays warm.

[My Green Pets]

I took several high light plants out like vanda, oncidium, cattleya, max ten, even the bulbophyllums. They are under a 40% shade cloth at the moment. Once my 70% cloth arrives in the mail, the low light plants will go out too.

After 7 months of careful watering indoors, it is a pleasure to spray them all with the hose every afternoon

[orchidsarefun]

I'm using these fertiliser baskets I got on e-bay for the first time. Normally I sprinkle a layer of dynagro extended release fertiliser around each plant when they go outdoors. I like these baskets better as its easier to monitor usage and the granules won't splash away.

[bil]

Here in Spain, the cymbidiums have been out forever, and I had to get the phals out before the light levels fried them in the greenhouse.

Just in time to catch a freak hailstorm which left them all looking like smallpox victims.

Imagine my joy!

[ddivey36]

Originally Posted by bil

Here in Spain, the cymbidiums have been out forever, and I had to get the phals out before the light levels fried them in the greenhouse.

Just in time to catch a freak hailstorm which left them all looking like smallpox victims.

Imagine my joy!

OH NO! I hope that they are OK!

[bil]

Originally Posted by ddivey36

OH NO! I hope that they are OK!

Oh they will survive thanks, but they really look as tho they have had smallpox. NOT a good look.

[My Green Pets]

Bil I'm sorry to hear that! By the way I used to live in Madrid; it sounds very strange for there to be hail in Spain! Maybe the little 'granizo' but nothing damaging!

[bil]

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

Bil I'm sorry to hear that! By the way I used to live in Madrid; it sounds very strange for there to be hail in Spain! Maybe the little 'granizo' but nothing damaging!

Oh this was a freak storm. !/2 an hour trapped in the greenhouse, almost deafened by the hail. When it was over, and the ground was drying, I could go down to the bottom of the garden where the water drains out, and scoop up a big bucket of hailstones still there an hour later.

[lotis146]

Gosh hail! That's no fun. :/ Glad you're not too worried about them.

Thanks Carrie. I know last year I wasn't so awesome about feeding b/c I basically got lazy, as Cambria has stated it's quite nice to just head out with the hose. I quite like the idea of slow-release fert or those little baskets Orchidsarefun has shared. Otherwise I have one of those contraptions you hook onto the end of the hose and set it for the amount of fert concentration you want. I've never used one before, on anything, does anyone else use one of these type of things?

Today we're getting a bit of on and off again rain so I took all but the Phals (well one Phal is out on its side, has been) out so they'd get rained on, even those in spike/flower (ok not Prom. silvana b/c this is my first spike with it and I'm nervous...though Ben Berliner is still out there...lol). I think once i get past these first few weeks I'll get over the anxiety.

Good luck everyone!

[bil]

Well, with fertiliser, I have taken to using Ray's low potassium fertiliser at very low levels every time I water