Does anyone here grow Dends. outdoors?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by ChasWG

What??!! "relatively dry" You don't know dry untill you come to the High Plains Desert that is Denver, CO. I'd be happy with your low RH of 40%.

Well thats in Monterey at the coast - move a wee bit inland like I am in west San Jose and daytime humidity in summer is usually in the 20s and the hotter it is the lower the humidity - during a recent heat spell of highs over 100 degrees the humidity was in the teens and I have seen it sometimes get into single digits. Being near the ocean and the bay temps drop considerably at night as well as an increase in humidity.

I have a lot of plants outdoors right now. Most are situated to get early morning or late afternoon sun.
Dens I have outside right now are moschatum (afternoon sun) and kingianum and xdelicatum getting morning sun - of course the indoor plants are treated to the same humidity - or lack there of - as the out side ones lol - tho due to the almost constant breeze here the outside ones do require more frequent watering.

[ChasWG]

Thanks WR! I understand now. The only difference between your San Jose, CA climate and my Denver, CO climate are the winters. Being at 5280 ft. elevation, I'm thinking that our winters are a bit colder. Do you keep your plants out all year?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by ChasWG

Thanks WR! I understand now. The only difference between your San Jose, CA climate and my Denver, CO climate are the winters. Being at 5280 ft. elevation, I'm thinking that our winters are a bit colder. Do you keep your plants out all year?

well and I guess at higher elevation the sun is stronger too ...
previously just the cyms stayed outside all year - but recently got l anceps and a hybrid of that which should be able to stay outside. The d kingianum and xdelicatum should be ok to leave out. I have also been using
SBOE and Botanicas Orchids as a guide to some other plants that may be able to - with perhaps just watching for extra cold nights. I think some laelias and dens can stay out except for the coldest nights.

Nightime lows in winter can get - but rarely do get - to freezing or a bit less. When that happens I just make sure the plants are on the porch where they are sheltered and near the house.
Daytime temps in winter are generally in the 50s or 60s unless we are having unusually cold, or warm, weather. So daytime temps are fine for most.
Humidity is generally higher in the winter - with nighttime humidity frequently near 100% lol