That full on Texas sun will cook even vandas? I've seen pictures of vandas on tree-fern posts in the middle of fields in the south Pacific, and good old TX will fry 'em like eggs. I'm new out here, trying to figure out how to grow plants in temperatures even I can't stand. Seem to be having pretty good luck with dendrobiums, bulbos, and phals, with paphs inside. I'll put some gallery photos up pretty soon...
Hi Drew and welcome to the OB!
I am on the west coast of Florida and the sun is extremely intense here too. I wouldn't think of putting any of my 'chids out in the full sun but I do keep the vandas and "sun-lovers" in my screenroom, so they are provided with a 20% shade allowance from the screening.
Looking forward to seeing your gallery
Aboard Drew, great to have you here on the OB with a wealth of knowledge to share. Keeping chids in direct sun, yep Sue your right our sun is way to hot, would cook a chid like eggs. My rule of thumb is if i'm comfortable so are the chids.