How hot is too hot?

[Goodkoalie]

Originally Posted by estación seca

It just occurred to me... Look up posts by WhiteRabbit (Sonya) who lives somewhere near Sacramento. She grows at least some orchids on her porch.

I will definitely look her up. Thank you for the lead.

[nutgirl]

I'm in the northern central valley with similar conditions. It can be a challenge.
As long as temps stay in the mid 90's I can do OK with most Phals, Catts, Vandas, Dends and some Bulbos.
My nights also cool off and humidity bumps up pretty good so that really helps

Shade cloth is a must and I spray everything down as often as possible during the day.
I have a small GH with a swamp cooler for Oncs and others that like it cooler.

My Cyms are outside with morning sun.
When we get a heatwave or hot drying winds I have to bring things in.
Through time I've discovered which plants can tolerate the higher temps.


Maureen

[Octopiston]

Most of my orchids (paphs, phals, oncidiums, catts, dens, epi., ency., vandas) go out when it gets warm enough.
Being in N. TX we have months of high 90's and it isn't uncommon to have over 100 days of triple digits with low humidity, very little rain, and dry winds during the summer months.
I think how they do in heat depends on the conditions. Mine are protected from the south amd have an oak tree to the east. They are also shaded so they get early morning light, and are shaded most of the day. They also get a short watering every morning and the area they are in seems to remain moist, I grow ferns in the same area, so that helps with the low humidity.

I now have a nobile Den so I'll see how that goes. Other dens and catts thrive in it. I'm debating on putting my minis out though. They'll dry out faster and one slug could destroy the whole plant pretty quickly.

[marylandmike]

Wetting the ground in the area near orchids a couple of times a day might help

[nutgirl]

Originally Posted by Octopiston

Most of my orchids (paphs, phals, oncidiums, catts, dens, epi., ency., vandas) go out when it gets warm enough.
Being in N. TX we have months of high 90's and it isn't uncommon to have over 100 days of triple digits with low humidity, very little rain, and dry winds during the summer months.
I think how they do in heat depends on the conditions. Mine are protected from the south amd have an oak tree to the east. They are also shaded so they get early morning light, and are shaded most of the day. They also get a short watering every morning and the area they are in seems to remain moist, I grow ferns in the same area, so that helps with the low humidity.

Yes, I have a large tree that gives afternoon shade and some humidity I think.
The orchids seem to adapt to heat if they get more water/spray during the day.

Maureen

[Optimist]

I am in New Mexico, near the Texas Pan-Handle. I grow Cattleyas, strap leaf paphiopedilums, dedrobiums, Phals, and various other kinds outside just fine in 90 degrees, with some days 100-104 or so. Yes it is dry. My answer to this was to fill large horse troughs, you might use a kiddie pool or something similar full of waterand allow it to evaporate. Also shade cloth, tree and wall combos of shade. Having plenty of soil (not cement) underneath creates a kind of evaporate cooler. If you have the bucks you might invest in a cooling mist system, or an outdoor fan. Go to outdoor garden centers to find how they keep their plants cool. You could also soak sheets or blankets with water to raise humidity. Sometimes this shade cloth is great to just spray "On" and it will retain a lot of droplets of water. Water plus air movement is evaporative air conditioning.

[Bohata]

Originally Posted by Octopiston

I now have a nobile Den so I'll see how that goes. Other dens and catts thrive in it. I'm debating on putting my minis out though. They'll dry out faster and one slug could destroy the whole plant pretty quickly.

How big are your minis? I find that cattleyas in 4" pots often do ok if they are potted in fine grade fir bark ang watered 3x/week. In smaller pots, sphagnum moss works well. They are put outside on a porch that is shaded until late in the afternoon. Last year, they withstood temps of up to 109 degrees.