How to transition orchids to outdoors?

[Wrknnwf]

I know I'm getting spring fever, but am wondering if the time is right to move house grown orchids and staghorn ferns to screened porch. Weather lows this week in the low to mid 50's with uppers in the mid 60's to 70's. Humidity is ranging from 30% to 75% or better. Rain predicted but not terribly likely right now. Zone 6a/6b Kansas City area. I do expect the odd cold snap that we normally get, but am keeping an eye out for that. Our average last frost date is mid April. We had some really gusty days last week.

I've always grown the phals on porch, spring through fall, but have some new species now. Don't want to kill them, but would like to take advantage of decent weather if it seems reasonable. Should I put them out during day and bring in at night? Of those listed below, are there any that I should NOT subject to the shock of moving right now.

Here's what I've got:
1 Dendrobium kingianum - pot
1 Cymbidium Sweet Heart "Spring Pearl" - pot
1 Oncidium incurvum - pot
1 Dendrobium aggregatum - basket
1 Amani Island Neofinetia - bare root
1 Neofinetia -kokedama
3 Paphiopedilums - pot
9 assorted phalaenopsis -pots/1 mounted
4 staghorn bifurcatums - slatted mounts

[Subrosa]

When putting orchids outside after wintering indoors, light is as much of a concern as temperature. You need to acclimate the ones that go into brighter situations gradually to natural sunlight. I start by putting mine in a spot where they get no direct sun for a week, then move the ones that like it brighter to where they catch some morning sun for another week. Then if the plant requires even brighter conditions, it gets moved out front under the overhang where it gets sun all morning until around noon. After a week of that the real sun lovers go into their summer homes. As far as temps, I have no knowledge of your Oncidium, Paphs, or Staghorns, but I don't let Phals see temps under 50°F. The rest of your list is fine as long as you don't get a frost.

[Roberta]

Definitely not the Phals... they don't like to go much below 60 deg F. The others should be fine as long as nights stay above about 40 deg F. I agree with Subrosa that you also want to be careful that you don't increase the light abruptly - start in a shady area when you put them out. Of the group, the Cymbidium, Den kingianum, and Den aggregatum are the most forgiving. The Neofinetia falcatas should also be pretty durable. The Paph, depends on which one... some need to be warmer than others. If you don't know, be cautious and wait for it to warm up some more.

[bil]

How to move them outside?

In a single word,

Carefully.

No plant likes an abrupt transition.

[Leafmite]

This early in the year, you need to keep an eye on the weather and be prepared to bring them inside if you get a cold spell.

[gabrielacocinera]

Be careful though. I put one of my orchids outside and didn't know it was infested with tiny snails that were eating the flowers. Luckily it recovered and bloomed the next year.