When to put cyms outside

[Pokey49]

Hi. I am new to cymbidiums and have three that need repotting and I would like to put them outside on the north side of my sunroom. I live in southern Oregon and I think we are past frost but gets down in the 40s at night. What are some of the basic guidelines for sitting them outside for the summer. Many thanks
Paul

[Bud]

You may bring them outdoors now that the frost is gone. Although these kind of orchids needs to be exposed to almost freezing temps to bloom.
When you repot make sure to refrain from watering for a week so that the roots will get accustomed to the media and avoid rot.

[Pokey49]

Thanks Bud. I will repot as suggested and set them out.

[RosieC]

Once the frost is gone it should be OK. We're expecting a late frost this weekend so I'm not putting mine out just yet.

[Pokey49]

Hi Rosie. Sounds like u live in southern Oregon too I am in Grants Pass. Btw. Can I set other genera outside too. I have paphs, phals, miltonias and oncidiums. I am still fairly new to orchids is why I ask

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Pokey49

Hi Rosie. Sounds like u live in southern Oregon too I am in Grants Pass.

No... the UK

Originally Posted by Pokey49

Btw. Can I set other genera outside too. I have paphs, phals, miltonias and oncidiums. I am still fairly new to orchids is why I ask

I put some Dens out (though not all), as well as a large mounted Miltonia which needs more light.

In the summer my greenhouse is kept open all the time and has Onc types, Masdevallia, Dens, and some others. Cyms can go out when it's colder than others can go in, but once it get's generally warm enough all but my Paphs & Phals will end up in the greenhouse or outside (depending on light requirements).

Oh and then there is the Cyps... they stay out in freezing conditions all the winter, but then they go dormant in the winter. I've heard of someone who used to be on this forum talking about keeping them outside in -40C in Canada. Not sure I would want to try them that cold, but mine usually get frozen (not this year, too warm this winter in the UK).

[Fairorchids]

Hi Pokey49.

After your Cymbidiums have hardened on north side for 10-14 days, you can move them into higher light. If you water them enough, they can tolerate full sun. Here (NJ/PA), commercial growers use 20pct shade cloth; I give them full sun, and leave them out till mid/late Nov.

You can move your other orchids out too, but you should wait till nite temps are above 55 deg F for Paphs & Phals, Onc/Milt are OK over 50 deg F.

Onc/Milt need 40-50pct shade
Paphs need 50-60pct shade
Phals need 60-70pct shade.

For many years I used a thin white sheet as shade cloth for a table in full sun for both Paphs & Milt, which worked fine.

[Pokey49]

Many thanks to you Rosie and Fairorchids for the advice I am an old guy who is pretty new to orchids. I retired 9 months ago and moved from 25 years living in Alaska to southern Oregon where we bought a house and added a sun room which I always wanted so I could have orchids and bromeliads. So I have been an orchid fancier all of 9 months. Just finished the master gardener program here as well. Hopefully I won't kill to many :-) my main concern in moving all my orchids outside for the summer is it gets pretty bloody hot here in summer. Even in the shade it can get up to 100F won't that be to hot for my paphs and phals??

[RosieC]

I'm not sure what temps are too hot I'm afraid. Here in the UK it's so rarely a problem, I'm always more worried about cold than hot!

[Cym Ladye]

It is not just high heat that may cause damage, but with humidity at 50% and higher, most orchids can handle the occasional high temps if they are not in direct sun. The humidity in NJ in the summer for instance, is much greater than in So. Oregon.

I am glad you went through a Gardener's master class, but most times, the people presenting them, although excellent gardeners, know little about the many nuances of growing and re potting orchids.

Our society has a hands-on potting workshop each year and uses repotting instructions which were published by the CSA (Cymbidium Society of California) several years ago in the CSA Journal. If you send me your email privately, I will send you a copy. Many members on this OB have sent for it and found it very helpful.

Cym Ladye