Acclimating orchids for summer outside?
 

:hello
I was just wondering how you all acclimate your orchids for a summer outside. Any info would help, especially info regarding Phals. Thanks.

If you give us some idea what your summer conditions are like, we might be able to help you.

I leave my Phals inside all summer. The summer conditions here would kill them in a hurry.

I just stick mine outside (tho try to avoid the hottest days of the year to do that) - the ones that like high light, I do start them off in a shadier spot, then gradually move them out to more light

I don't have a/c, and by the time I am putting out the plants, have probably not been using heat, so the temps indoors aren't a great deal different from the temps outside, so they don't really get much of a temperature change when put out. I just try to do it on a day that's not blistering hot, nor freakishly chilly ;)

i throw mine out as soon as its safe for them. none have died yet for that reason, lol, im brutal. i start most in a nice shady spot. and i increase lighting if i feel thye could use it.

I second what has been said above. I do wait til nighttime minimum temps are around 60 degrees (here, around early May) before leaving them outside. My phals are usually the last to go outside, since I have other orchids that can tolerate slightly chillier temps.

guess I should say - I only have a few Phals, and don't put them out - tho in the past I have put some out, in a nice shady spot with either early morning sun, or very late in the day sun and they did well

if you are somewhere that gets rain in summer - I'd try to keep them sheltered from that

Thanks for replying. I live in nebraska and it is very hot. Mid 90's. That would be a big temp change and might do them more harm than good. I do have one I put outside but I have one of the same inside just incase.

You probably right. They would die if you put them outside right now. Mine went outside as soon the night temp. was in 60 and as temp. got higher they gradually got used to it. Well at least tolerate. Right now it is mid 90 outside - it is hard to get used to this heat. I have brought everything including Vandas and Cattleyas into a shade where they got a some morning and evening sun. They get watered 1-3 per day depending on individual bases.
You can put them outside when temperatures cool down a little. This way they wont have shock from the heat.

mine are under trees. so they get sheltered some from rain. but they have enough air movement i dont worry about the rain. unless its like days and days in a row.

Yeah, I put mine outside when the night time temps are within the appropriate range for a species group. However, if you are going to put new plants outside in the heat be sure that you water them good and keep up their watering schedule (you may have to up them for a while to help compensate), that they are in far more shade than they would normally prefer and that they have strong air movement around them at all times. Those three factors should help reduce the stress overall, but you are always running a risk when you wait late in the year to take something outside.