monn millenium culture advice/help

[hypostatic]

LIGHT -- How much is too much?

Soooo I'm thinking of moving these guys outside to get some more light.



According to First Ray's calculator, on a clear sunny day with no obstruction, the light intensity max would be about 9800 FC.

If I put my catasetums outside, what's the best way to ensure that they get the most light, without slowly acclimating them and risking them being burned by the sun? If I put up a 60% shade cloth above them, to cut the sunlight to 4000 FC at high noon, would this be safe, or could that still burn them?

[isurus79]

At your latitude, I think your Catasetums could do just fine in nearly no shade after a period of acclimation. Is it possible to give them full sun until about noon and then have the shade cloth kick in?

[hypostatic]

Well I could put the cloth directly above them, so that the sun is mostly only blocked when the sun is overhead.

And here is one example of members of the genus in full, unadulterated sunlight:



This is Ctsm macrocarpum; photo taken in Trinidad & Tobago. As you can see, they are growing completely unprotected, on the top of telephone poles (I've seen Fred Clark share a similar image in one of his talks).

I don't imagine ALL ctsm are this sun-tolerant, but the SVO caresheet says they do well up to 5000 FC. Sooo I'm thinking that using 60% shade to bring the light down to 4000 FC should be safe...

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by hypostatic

Well I could put the cloth directly above them, so that the sun is mostly only blocked when the sun is overhead.

And here is one example of members of the genus in full, unadulterated sunlight:



This is Ctsm macrocarpum; photo taken in Trinidad & Tobago. As you can see, they are growing completely unprotected, on the top of telephone poles (I've seen Fred Clark share a similar image in one of his talks).

I don't imagine ALL ctsm are this sun-tolerant, but the SVO caresheet says they do well up to 5000 FC. Sooo I'm thinking that using 60% shade to bring the light down to 4000 FC should be safe...

Yes, it’s pretty common to see images like this of Catasetums being blasted by sun. And adding shade cloth just for that direct sun is a good idea, especially on those really hot days. That’s what really hursts the leaves, is direct sun plus intense (greater than 90 degrees) heat.

[mook1178]

I live in Delaware. Once my catasetinae get watered in May, I put them in full sun outside. I haven't seen any sunburn in the past.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by mook1178

I live in Delaware. Once my catasetinae get watered in May, I put them in full sun outside. I haven't seen any sunburn in the past.

Well there ya go hypostatic... Delaware vs New Jersey. Can't get too much better similar culture than that!

[DirtyCoconuts]

i have an eave over mine and i do move them up and down their space based on the temps but they get 3-5 hours of full midday florida sun, at least, year round....

they can take some sun

[hypostatic]

oof, ok, I think I'm gonna take the plunge!

I think I'll start bringing them outside soon in the morning. It's still almost freezing overnight up here in Jersey.

[DirtyCoconuts]

see, that scares me more than heat....i am not an expert and i did not stay at a holiday inn express so...grain of salt.


temps below 55 are a threshold for these plants and if you get a weird frost or something...it could be bad.

weigh that into the choice

[mook1178]

That's another reason why I put mine out in May. I wait until night temps are staying in the 50s.