Moving Orchids Outside After Summer Heat

[turock]

Ah-hem... Now that I got that out of my system, I'll try to help you with your question, Trish!

Orchids do tend to fall into categories as far as preferring warmer or cooler temperatures. You can probably find out if your type of orchid is a warm, intermediate or cool-grower by looking up care sheets. You can start by looking here: https://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=217

Here's another chart that shows a few common species of orchids and what temps they prefer to grow (in both F and in C ):About Orchids: Basic Orchid Care for Beginners - Temperature

[bil]

Originally Posted by Tschimm

@bil
I saved this picture on my phone where I can find it very quickly.
I use it very often while browsing through OB

Thanks for posting that. I use a slight shorthand. Instead of the precise method, (F minus 32 divide by 1.8 = C) I use F minus 30 and divide by two. It's a bit sloppy, but it works quite well.

[Tschimm]

Thanks for that shorthand bil. Easy to remember and precise enough for growing orchids

Here's a another article

http://staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/Alert-ColdWeather.pdf

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Nana Trish

I'm wondering when/if I should move some of my orchids outside after the intense summer heat we have had in East Texas. Most of mine are Phals, a few are Cattleyas and 1-2 Epidendrum. They have been in my sunroom all summer with lots of windows and I keep a misting humidifier and a humidity tray going, as well as a ceiling fan on low. I know that some orchids need a change in temperature to encourage growth. So, if I should move them outside during day or nighttime this Fall, what would be the ideal conditions, temperature, etc.

You'll want to do a heat tolerance check of your species, but for the most part they can all go outside all summer long. I'm Austin where its much drier (heat plus humidity is better for the plants than heat and dry air) and I throw most of my orchids outside for the whole summer.

Originally Posted by Subrosa

That certainly makes conversions easier than trying to figure out why Europeans hold their cigarettes that funny way!

I have seen some funny smokers over the years!

[Nana Trish]

Seriously, you leave your orchids out most of the summer? In East Texas, we have high 90s and even 100s occasionally. Yes, the humidity would definitely be advantageous here. In such high temps, phals are okay even in the shade?

[Raqsharqi]

It's in the 90s and yes, even the 100s here in Tucson, too...and unless it's raining, we don't have the humidity you do, but my orchids (the ones I put out) enjoy it. I have to keep them in the shade and watered (unless the rain does that for me) and I will leave them there until nighttime temps drop to about 60.
If I had a safe place to put the rest of them out, I probably would. I have a very limited amount of bright shade that is also fairly critter-free. Last year I burned a few leaves when I miscalculated the change in the relative position of the sun as we got into Fall. I don't want to do that again!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Nana Trish

Seriously, you leave your orchids out most of the summer? In East Texas, we have high 90s and even 100s occasionally. Yes, the humidity would definitely be advantageous here. In such high temps, phals are okay even in the shade?

The Phals might be a bit problematic, but with the higher humidity you might be able to get away with it. I'd use an "experimental" phal that you don't mind losing to try once before you throw them all outside. The other plants should do just fine.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Nana Trish, it sounds like you have mostly warm-growing types, so you should be able keep them outdoors from spring though fall. The precautions recommended by earlier posters regarding gradual adjustment to stronger light should be followed.

For this season you can still move plants outdoors to a location with filtered light and they should benefit. You can bring them back indoors when night temperatures will drop lower than the mid 40s F.