High temps and outdoor growing

[SaraJean]

I have never grown an orchid outdoors but I would like to start if I can. My main concern is if our high summertime temps, here in New Orleans, are compatible with the types of orchids I have.
Currently, I have:
Miltassia Charles M Fitch
Zygo Jumping Jack hybrid
Paph Macabre
Oncidium Sharry Baby

Our temps from June-September are usually in the 90's F, with a 10-15 degree drop at night, at the most. Humidity usually stays around 50%-80%. There is a nice protected area in my courtyard, where my plants will not get rained on, that gets a range of bright filtered light on one side and moderate-to-low filtered light on the other side. There is really good air movement and also a ceiling fan in this area.

So what do ya think? Are my plants going to get cooked?

[tarev]

I would position the Paph in shade, but the other three should be good with part sun/part shade.

You got better conditions than I have here, at least you got humidity that the orchids love in summer. And you have more rain I think than my area. Our area is sizzling now, 94F and higher and extremely dry at 25% humidity, have already endured 105F the other week, so I really have to make sure my orchids are in part sun/shade, thankfully the city trees are shading them during the hottest part of the day. Your orchids will love some warm rain, as long as they get good air circulation later too.

If you have no rain forecast, make sure you water them well early in the day. Especially the Oncidium and Zygo, they love good moisture, can't really overwater them here, just too thirsty. I find my orchids are able to endure the heat as long as I get to water them early in the day and gets their shade in the hot afternoons, plus good air circulation.

Btw, if these are just newly acquired orchids, you may want to gradually ease them outdoors, put them in part shade till it gets used to your outdoor conditions.

[Ray]

Personally, I would not put the zygo or miltassia out. Both have cooler-growing species in their backgrounds, and may not do well with the warmer nighttime temperatures. A bright, air-conditioned location is a better idea.
Plants have different physiological (i.e., chemical) processes going on in sunlight and in darkness, and temperature plays a role in their rates, so if the temperatures -day or night- are outside of the acceptable range for the plant, it will slowly weaken.


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

[My Green Pets]

Last year I tried growing my Zygo outdoors in our hot, humid summer and it aborted a new growth. It is staying inside this year.

The Paph and Oncidium should be fine and even enjoy the warmth and humidity.

[Optimist]

Its relative. If your plant originates in the Phillipines, or Viet Nam, it is okay with the heat. Is New Orleans like Viet Nam. Outside I place paphs near the ground. Oncidiums grow higher in the trees, thus higher to the sun, thus more light. No matter what, it all needs shading, whether 25% or 60% since you are mixing various plants from various places, it is harder to make a judgement about overall needs. I feel it is beter to keep similar orchids together, and creating ecosystems.

[SaraJean]

Sounds good! It looks like I will keep my zygo and milt indoors. Right now they are looking very good and have new growth all over which is making me quite happy. The paph and oncidium are staying outdoors. The paph is in a nice shady spot. All of these different types orchids is confusing! I am poring over books and reading as much as I can find on the internet which has only seems to lead to more questions
But I am definitely enjoying it!

Are there orchids that you all an think of might be particularly suited for these sort of outdoor temps? I seem to be drawn to the oncidiums but there are so many different species it is making my head spin.

[Jackie26085]

Your condition sounds perfect for most common orchids.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wolfrott]

I think you should be good. I also live in a similar climate to yours, humidity can be very intense during monsoon season, other days are hot with 31-40C. My family's orchids are mounted to trees with partial shade depending on the sun's position during the day.