So who's put their plants out already?

[lotis146]

Who among us have put their chids out for the summer? And have you seen any results?

Last week I put most of my chids out, except for several in bloom or spike. It rained that night and the next day, since then it's been on and off hot and muggy. Of course I feel good that they're enjoying higher humidity levels and more air circulation. Getting a light meter soon - since reading that thread - and will see just how placement may change for some but for now they're lining one side of my deck with some hanging.

It's pretty early yet to report any serious results but I can honestly say that I have seen some. For starters my Bllra. Tahoma Glacier 'Green's' new growth has grown some since last week. I discovered yesterday my Promenaea 'Ben Berliner' is starting a spike (silvana is still inside b/c I discovered a spike, longer than Ben). Others are also showing more growth - like my Wilsonara - though no other new spikes.

I'm excited though it's supposed to rain for several days this weekend and a couple of nights it will drop to 41...this makes me wonder if I should haul everybody back in...

How's your outdoor living going?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Hi Lotis

I live in north Georgia, and have had mine out since late March. We had a long stretch of wet weather last month, and I had a couple plants with leaf problems because of the constant rain, but mostly things are growing well and producing new growth.

I have only one plant that I can link new blooms to the change in conditions - Restrepia brachypus. It always blooms after it is moved outdoors into cooler conditions.

I would not worry too much about your drop to 41 F temperatures as long as the drop is short-lived and they are not wet. You can always toss an old sheet or blanket over them, assuming you don't have too many.

[orchidsarefun]

I should have most of them out by mid-May. Some have been out since last week - mainly zygo hybrids and a paph or 2. The ones in the photo are on a North-facing porch, luckily getting some late afternoon sun and reflective light.
So much easier to water and spray. I feel like I'm on vacation already ! My zygo triste didn't seem to mind temps in the upper 30's for a while.


The rest ( catts, catasetum ) are going into more sunnier spots - hanging from trees...

[silken]

Not me, not even the Cym. Our forecast low for tonight is -3 C

[Skycat]

Some of them, but... probably too much stuff at once, because my vanilla and Phrag (and one cactus) ended up with massive sunburn (and I'm usually really careful to not let stuff get sunburned). My Phrag has since started a new leaf in one of the fans, though.

[Tschimm]

My Orchids are still waiting for warmer temps outside. Maybe next week...

Most of mine are mounted so I just have to hang them in a tree.

Pics will follow :-)

[Subrosa]

Just put the Cats and Stanhopea out this week, most of the rest have been out a month or so. Not counting the temperate species.

[desertanimal]

My catts went out, but not until Sunday. They've been able to stay out all week, and we've been able to have the windows open in the house. Ahhhh. Thank goodness. I was going a little crazy waiting for it to warm up. It takes so long here.

[sruther4d]

Just put mine out yesterday. First solid week of 80's here in Tidewater VA.

[ddivey36]

I had my Phals out in March to entice some bloom spikes, I have brought them back in and now all the Catts and Dens are outside playing- they all had new growth from the warm up at the window, and that growth is continuing. Hoping that they will really flourish. Hoping that our summer doesn't see too much 100F days as all this week it has been in the 80's already. I am switching to afternoon watering however, just can't get it done in the mornings before work since they are all over the house.