So who's put their plants out already?

[lotis146]

Just wanted to update a little on how summer outside is going for my plants. My Phals - most weren't outside last year - are very actively growing. Lots of new roots, couple new spikes & spike branches on older spikes in addition to new leaves. Maybe as the weeks go on I'll get lucky with even more spikes. I set my little greenhouse shelf up by the way a couple weeks ago b/c we've had a lot of rain and while they got rained on several times - only one VERY weak, almost rootless mini-phal died - I didn't want to push my luck especially b/c at the time we were getting a bit of a cold front. Now I can protect them with the plastic cover from the rain.










Also I think one of my mini Catts may be growing a sheath, too early to tell. Paph. Lebaudyanum is in low sheath. Zygolum Rhein 'Moonlight', Neopabstopetalum & Ianclarkara all have short spikes (only one each but hey I'm happy). Lots of other plants with new roots & new growths! And if you haven't seen it already I've posted that my Huntleya wallisii is in bloom again. It does appear though that the rain has taken its toll on my Degarmoara and rot is back; if anything I'll see what I can do with the ONE remaining pbulb that doesn't appear affected (not yet at least b/c I've been lazy & haven't treated it ). All in all though my plants are pretty darn happy outside, I just gotta make up for feeding b/c I haven't with all the rain & I have to make adjustments due to the true summer sun, lots of leaves are showing their discomfort. Oh and one more update my Tolumnia Buck Hollow also suffered from the rain I believe and the last growth to flower this year rotted but the rest of the plant seems ok...we'll see.

My Butterwort btw has been tucked and sort of squished behind a bunch of plants on one of my stands and it has grown like CRAZY (I'll have to get a pic). I haven't really inspected it but it looks like maybe it's grown more of itself, I don't know cause I don't know a lot about Butterworts but I'm psyched it's doing so great!

How are all of your plants?

[Jackie26085]

Don't you love the look of healthy new roots? Great set up! I wish we get some rain here.

[theloyalplum]

I had to move things back home for a few weeks as I go on vacation. I've rigged a mister/sprinkler system to go on for a couple minutes every morning to emulate my windowsill routine. Tested it for a week and they seem fine, though the mounted ones are getting a tad too dry... but they look happy with the fresh air! The lows of 55F at night are a tad too low for a few, so they're inside in packed sphag on a humidity tray. Crossing my fingers~

[Jackie26085]

My nights are in the mid 55s as well and my catts and vandas seem to do fine. I keep the vanda foliage dry at night but I do water in the evening as I simply don't have time to water everything in the morning.

[theloyalplum]

Originally Posted by Jackie26085

My nights are in the mid 55s as well and my catts and vandas seem to do fine. I keep the vanda foliage dry at night but I do water in the evening as I simply don't have time to water everything in the morning.

Literally everything else is out but my phal speciosa. I've heard terrible things about going below 60F and I'm not going to take that chance if I can avoid it! I would water super early instead of at night. I water at 6 or 7am and they dry by sundown for the most part! Sitting water never did anyone any good!

[lotis146]

I do love new roots so much.

I've got just about all mine outside and only brought those with buds/blooms in when the temps were low there for a bit. But since then I'm pretty sure we've still had a few nights of below 60 & most everyone has been fine, including nights of serious down pour. But again as I mentioned above my Tolumnia did suffer I assume from a combination of lots of rain, late rain and some colder nights. I've also been more cautious with the Phals if they were rained on otherwise I don't worry too - too much about below 60s.

This is the part where I really want to take some more time and learn which plants really prefer warmer temps although it seems so much of what I've researched winds up saying "temperature tolerant" though I do know my Aganisia for instance prefers it warmer while Zygos tend to like a bit cooler. But then too Zygo hybrids tolerate more intermediate temps so... oh and I know Miltoniopsis likes it cooler so it's back inside right now due to recent heat. Wouldn't you know it that today is in the 70s? Sometimes it's a back and forth circus.

Good luck & happy growing!

[gngrhill]

I have a question for those of you experienced with growing outdoors. I do have several out now, but I have read that if they get pollenated , the flowers will collapse and fall off. I have a miltoniopsis outside with 4 bloom spikes on it. Should I move it inside before the blooms open? Will moving it inside cause the buds to blast ?

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by Jackie26085

My nights are in the mid 55s as well and my catts and vandas seem to do fine. I keep the vanda foliage dry at night but I do water in the evening as I simply don't have time to water everything in the morning.

I can understand the necessity to water later in the day. Sometimes I've had to do it deliberately other times I plan on it earlier in the afternoon at least but by the time I get all set up and going and half way through watering it's evening...sheesh...

Originally Posted by gngrhill

I have a question for those of you experienced with growing outdoors. I do have several out now, but I have read that if they get pollenated , the flowers will collapse and fall off. I have a miltoniopsis outside with 4 bloom spikes on it. Should I move it inside before the blooms open? Will moving it inside cause the buds to blast ?

Gngrhill sorry I didn't reply to this earlier but am glad I found the post where you asked again! As I said there, a lot of orchids need specific pollinators that are only found in their native habitats, but that's not to say it's impossible for another creature to 'get it right'. When they are pollinated the flowers will fade; in my experience some will fade completely and very quickly, while others - such as my Zygo hybrids - will fade & yellow but stick around for a while, the flowers fade further as the pod/capsule matures. And in the case of failed pollination that flower will be lost, I've had other non-pollinated flowers die with the pollinated one.

But honestly I've kept a number of orchids in bloom outside and never had them pollinated except by me.


I wanted to ask you guys though about air movement outside. I'm currently having some problems with fungal issues. Everyone keeps telling me I need more air circulation and I'm thinking gosh the plants are outside! That said these issues have popped up as our temps have gone up significantly and long-term. Perhaps I've overlooked just how much air circulation isn't occurring on my back deck and the effects of high humidity. What do you guys think & what are you experiencing? On either side of the deck I have lattice so I know that slows the air movement but I've not really considered how much this could be a problem. Add to it I'm about to set up some shade cloth & bug screen!

[gngrhill]

I have not noticed a problem yet, but will keep my eyes open. My cyms, 2, and my den nobile, are actually out in my driveway where they get full sun until about 2 pm, the rest are on my deck which get very little actual sun only in late afternoon. The last couple of days have been very hot and humid, so I'm trying to keep an eye closer. We get some breeze, but some days, none.

[orchidsarefun]

I am lucky enough to have a range of options when it comes to outdoors. From under trees, to sheltered south-facing and north-facing areas. They are all doing well, especially some of my paphs - the one in the photo has 5 new growths.
However this August sun is really hot and bright and I have had some sunburn on the leaves - so watch out, even with some catasetums. You can see in the photo that leaves are slightly yellow on some of them, even the den. I don't want to bring them indoors because indoors the temp is a constant 73f. The other plants are zygo seedlings which appear to do just as well in a south-facing situation as a north !