Taking Orchids Outside

[Bevhock]

Hi Fellow Orchid Lovers!

I am fairly new to orchid keeping. I have several phals, 4 cattleyas a vanda and a stanhopea. I want to take at least the catts and vanda (in water vase to stimulate root growth) outside. I keep reading to slowly acclimate them. What is slowly for an orchid? I live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and currently our temps are in the 80s and 90s daily and 60s-low 70s at night this July. I have a 40% shade cloth for them. Any recommendations? Thank you!!

[MrHappyRotter]

Slowly acclimate them to light, that's the important thing. You can set them outside right now as long as the temperatures aren't extreme and they'll be fine.

Just don't stick them where they'll get direct sunlight. If they've been grown indoors for any amount of time, and you set them into the sun, even for a short period of time, they can and probably will burn.

So, you stick them in a shady spot for a few days to a week, then you can move them to a spot where they get a little more light for a slightly longer duration. Then finally, you can move them up into partial sun ... at least the species and hybrids that appreciate that much light. This acclimation process should probably take a couple weeks or longer.

[Bevhock]

Thank you so much! That answers my question perfectly!

[Orchid Whisperer]

I quite agree - acclimation to higher light is more critical than acclimation to temperature.