How to keep my cymbidiums happy outside this summer (in Ottawa, Canada)

[latigresse]

Bonjour!

I have 3 Cymbidiums that I purchased at Home Depot 2 years ago but they have not rebloomed.
I now know that they need a lot of light and I was told to put them outside during the summer until October.

My questions: Do I need to protect the orchids with a shade cloth (if yes, where do I buy this?) or just put them in direct sun (my backyard is facing East and South)? My backyard is naked, I don't even have grass yet (so no big trees for shade)!
I also read on the board that I need to keep the orchids off the ground as well. Could I just place the orchids on a stone slab?
What happens when it rains a lot? Should I put them under my second story deck during large rainfall?

I've killed most of my Phals, and the only orchids that seem to stay alive for me are the cymbidiums and oncidiums... so I don't want to screw up.

Also, I have a young cymbidium (which I just transfered to S/H), will it do well outside?

Thanks a lot for your help and input

[stonedragonfarms]

With no big trees for shade, I would suggest that you grow under light shade cloth for the summer (I don't use cloth over my cymbidiums, a large oak tree provides shade for me, so hopefully somone can chime in with a sun block percentage here, though I would guess that 30% would be good) I elevate my plants usually on inverted plastic milk crates, and water them frequently (usually daily unless it is raining) I would not worry too much about rainy weather, 99% of the plants that I summer out love rain water, provided that they have adequate drainage. The only problems that I usually need to watch for here in MI are high winds (seldom a problem) and red squirrels (let the dog "wet" a few milk crates and this is usually taken care of...)
Please let us know if you need additional advice, and again, I hope that someone can chime in with shade cloth percentages for you.
Adam

[Weebl]

I grow mine in full sun here in Central California (36° N). Ottawa is at 45° N, and I would be confident in saying they will be able to handle full sun up there no worries. The hard part is acclimating them to higher levels of light without burning them. For sake of practicality and simplicity I would get some shadecloth from any store similar to Home Depot/Lowe's/OSH and make a frame to cover the cloth over.

You would want to keep them off the ground to decrease chance of worms getting into the medium (Great companions for soil, not so good for orchid substrate) and allowing full drainage of the pots. I also wouldn't worry about protecting them from rain, they'll appreciate it if anything. Hail is another story though. I don't think most plants from tropical/subtropical regions enjoy ice balls falling on them.

[BikerDoc5968]

I agree with all of the above. I am in Michigan (42N) and I put mine out on the driveway (cement) all summer in full sun. The leaves turn a pale yellow-green by mid July. As Adam has said I also water and feed frequently. They stay out til October or the night time temps are in the mid to upper 40's (5~7C). As the weather gets cooler, I try to back off on the water.

[latigresse]

Merci beaucoup (Thanks a lot)!

Milk crates are a great idea stonedragonfarms!
One other question: Do you spray the orchids with pesticide/insecticide when they are outside?

Thanks for all your advice!

[BikerDoc5968]

I usually treat with a systemic in late July that lasts about 3 months

[stonedragonfarms]

I usually spray them with a fine mist of rubbing alcohol right before I bring them in for the fall/winter. I try to avoid insecticides if I can. Any slugs that pop up are usually taken care of by the resident tree frogs in my gh

[latigresse]

Thanks for the help!