How do you keep the squirrels from tipping them over? That's been my big problem when putting (any) plants outside in the summer.

Florrie

Hi Florrie,

I use those "hobby greenhouses" (looks like this one http://www.patiostore.com/greenhouse/JCEarlyStart.html )that I bought at Drug Fair but without the plastic cover that comes with it and then I cover it with deer/bird netting from Home Depot. It is basically a fine black plastic netting that I tie down with twist ties. The frame keeps it off the plants. It also helps keep the smaller pots from flying off the shelves if wind or rain gets strong.

Larissa

Hi Larissa, what is the weather criteria for putting your plants outdoors? Right now in NW Ontario I've had mine out during the day but bringing them in overnight (temp still just above freezing most nights lately). Daytime highs of 20 C or so and always a nice breeze. Just wondering,
Karmen

Hi Karmen,

I usually wait until temps at night a consistantly above 14-18C depending on the plant. Otherwise they go back and forth like yours do. Check this site for min temps for plants as well as culture advice.. http://www.canadianorchidcongress.ca/cculture/culture.html

Larissa

Hi Larissa,
Yeah, I agree it seems safe now. According to the forecast, it appears that the high temps are here to stay now. (About time it's June!)

Debbie

Woo Hoo! Isn't it nice? Mine have been out since the Friday before Memorial Day and they are lovin' it! They were all growing before I put them out, but they've seemed to have exploded in the short time they've been out there. AND it's so much nicer to finish repotting outdoors instead of making a mess indoors.

Enjoy!

I just put mine out yesterday! And I found a spike nubbin on my Vanda! Life is good...
I wonder if they will need to be watered more often--although there is rain and thunder in the forecast for most of the week...I'm kinda nervous, this is first time out for most of these babies...
nick

Nick-- make sure you acclimate them to being in the sun or they will burn. geve them just a little bit more sun each day over a period of about 2 weeks. I jumped the gun with a few of the ones I was putting in and out and now have sunburned leaves on some of mine.

Larissa

I dunno about this "Woo Hoo! Isn't it nice?" stuff. I'll be starting to move some of my plants in the opposite direction later in the week! :-)

--Stitz--

Nick,
Don't worry, these plants absolutely love it outside. I'm in Wi, too, (Milwaukee) and mine spent their first summer outside last year and I couldn't believe the flowers I got over the winter. I keep mine under the eaves, on the northeast side of my house and had no trouble with burn. I watered at least twice weekly, profusely.

Susan

Thanks for the warning Larissa--my amarylis, which I am less careful with, have been out a few weeks and did get a little sunburn. I'm hoping that the current overcast weather helps them get accomodated--

Susan- I guess mine are also in a protected northeast exposure, a short back stairwell that gets a few moments of direct sunlight, and I've mingled them with the 6 amarylis

Here's a question--I was told to put my Zygopetalum outdoors, but also it doesn't like water on its leaves--what about rain?

Here's what's outside: Potinara, Oncidium, Bllra., Odont., Zygopetalum, and Tolumnia.
Phals, Phrag and Paph have remains indoors--any thoughts?
PS the phals are all in bloom or bud, so I don't want to rock the boat
nick(Madison)

Nick,

Mine have been outside for the last 3 summers, and there's something new to learn each year.

A local grower puts his plants outside when we've had night temps in the mid-50sF/13C for about 10 nights, if I've got that right. We're just now getting to that time, about a month later than last year.

Last year, I was glad I controlled when the orchids got water outside - put an overhanging sheet of plexiglass on top of the shelves, so little rain got to the plants. The summers before, things had stayed too soggy for too long.

A lot of Phrags, Paphs, Neos, etc. will like the cooler temps in earlier spring and after the 1st of September, when most Phals would be too cold. Summer before last, a Phrag succumbed to the hot mid-summer weather, and last summer, some Phrags, Paphs, and Neos were damaged by fungus that got going when it was too hot for them. This year, they'll spend the hot weather in the AC. Same for the Oncidium Twinkles and some of the Dendrobiums.

For each of your plants, it might be good to look up the ideal summer temp range.

During the hotter weather, Phals and other warmer-loving plants will go outside.

Here's my set-up last summer. It gets E/SE light until about 1:00 pm and then a bit from the opposite direction after 4:00 pm. The light is cut 50% by the lattice panels, and the shelves are under the deck above, which cuts down on the light - and heat - more.

Usually, the front panels are closed, and squirrels haven't damaged anything so far: Any gaps are filled w/ chicken wire panels.

{{gwi:172485}}

Stitz, why are yours going from outside to inside?

Yes, I agree w/ everyone that the plants love being outside, although they'll thrive spending the summer inside, too, if conditions are favorable - much easier to control the environment.

Whitecat8

Whitecat8--I have a few "cool" growing Ida, Lycaste and Pabstia plants. Once the temp hits 90 (maybe less), it's time to take action with a few of them. It's expected to get into the 90's this week. Temps approaching 100 and beyond are around the corner!

Nick--Anytime the temp is 45 or higher, my Zygos are outside. That's what's "normal" for them. Sunlight is your greater concern; rarely, rain. There have been years when it's rained every day for two straight weeks and the Zygos LOVE it! Of course, it's necessary to have a free flow of water through the media in such conditions.

--Stitz--

Whitecat--

love your set-up; how did you attach the lattice panels to the shelves? Based on the picture, looks like I should tuck my plants in a little closer to the house, that way they'll be under the eaves, too--less sun and less water

It's supposed to be 52 F tonight--sooo according to COC some plants need to come back in overnight?
nick

Nick, the panels are attached w/ cable ties. The "door" in front is closed w/ bungee cords

The original plan was to make wooden frames for the panels and join them w/ piano hinges, but I decided to go low-tech.

It's likely that more sun would mean more benefit - it just happens we've got the deck above. On the deck, though, orchids would fry - the wood gets hot, and there's full sun all day.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems there would be fewer bugs w/ the shelves on the patio, rather than on the bare ground. The patio's more level, for sure.

One thing I'll do this summer is secure the unit to the 4"x4" posts on either side: This spring, winds blew down the entire structure twice, splintering the plexiglass beyond repair. The 10 bricks or so didn't provide enough weight. Thank goodness, there were no plants outside then.

As for bringing plants in for 52F - if mine have been outside for a week or so in mid-50 temps, I'll leave them out if it dips a couple of degrees lower. However, there's no guarantee your plants might not suffer.

Stitz - makes sense you'd be bringing those back in for the warmer weather. We hit 80F a few weeks ago... I think. It's definitely been cool here this year.

Whitecat8

Whitecat8--the list just of plants to bring INTO the house just lengthened dramatically. The expected high temp on Friday jumped to 96°F (36°C). While there are many orchids that can "tolerate" those temps, that doesn't mean that they "like" high heat! It also brings other factors into play--humidity, wind, etc.....

--Stitz--

Stitz,
For the zygos outside, I thought water getting into the crown of the plants was an issue? Also, don't water drops on the leaves cause the black spots?

I'd love clarity on these issues, since I love this plant but some of what I've read seems to contradict itself.

Thanks!

Susan

Hi Susan,

Regarding Zygos, I will limit my observations to my plants. I grow Zygo species only. I don't think that rot is a problem with more mature growth in Zygos. My experience has been that water getting into the crown of a very young growth is especially dangerous when there is inadequate air movement. Rot is likely. I don't concern myself too much with the plants left outdoors in the rain. Rot happens. Zygopetalum sends out far greater numbers of new growths than other orchids, Cattleya e.g. When the plants are indoors, I water early in the morning. I have a fan "on", 24/7. Air movement isn't an issue.

The spotting in Zygo leaves has been a source of comment from "experts" for many years. From the reading that I have done over the years, I think that the source of spotting is a naturally occurring biological agent which is not harmful to the plants. I hesitate to call the spotting a problem.

I have noticed that the spotting becomes more pronounced in weakened, darkly colored plants. I have also noticed that the spotting is reduced in strong plants with light green colored leaves. Regardless of whether a plant is strong or weak, spotting is commonly found in all. I have purchased plants bred within the USA. I have imported a few from Brasil. My observations are the same regardless of the source.

Can Zygos be found without the spotting? I don't know. It doesn't concern me. If the plant is vigorous and the flowers are numerous, bold and colorful, then I don't care!

I'd like to add an additional note about Zygos. I have repeatedly seen it written that Zygos flower once per year. Yes, in some years that is true. I have also had exceptional years with frequent flowering from the same plant/same pot, almost non-stop for months. The flowering is often stimulated by cooler temps at a particular stage of growth. When the conditions are optimal, flowering happens!

My brief anecdotes represent past performance which is not a guarantee of future results. Future flowering will fluctuate. Of course, what happens in Md may not happen elsewhere. :-)

--Stitz--

I'm really glad this thread was started... and so glad that so many of you "orchid experts" have responded! The information here makes me a lot less hesitant to bring my precious babies outdoors for the summer!

Like Nick, I have potted Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulbs that are going outside to summer over... and this year, I have a Cymbidium and an Epidendrum that will benefit, I'm sure, from the outdoor weather.

It sounds like I'll need to find a good sheltered spot for everyone... one that will allow light, but not a whole lot of direct sun. I actually have 2 of the mini-greenhouse set-ups still in boxes... I could set those up, sans plastic, and keep them near the garage... in case they need to be wheeled inside for inclement weather.

Whitecat, your set-up is very nice... I'll have to see if my husband can come up with something along those lines for my orchid collection... which will most assuredly multiply very rapidly! The more I learn, the more I want!

Stitz,
Thanks so much for your response. I am going to adopt your thinking on the spotting, since it does seems like a widespread thing and it seems like all or most sources agree on this - it just happens. However, I do remember that when I bought my plant from an orchid greenhouse, it had 3 spikes and the leaves on the plant were not spotted, so this makes me believe that under "perfect" conditions spotfree or reduced spotting must be possible.

I noted that you said that zygos produce more new growths than other orchids, ah ha... now we are onto something. If yours are producing lots of new growths I am definitely going to work toward your conditions, since mine have not outproduced my other orchids in new growths. This year I got 2 new growths which both bloomed - not exactly profuse growth.

On another note, I noticed that my blooms this year did not have the fragrance that I noted from the spikes that bloomed from the greenhouse. That original bloom, after I bought the plant, made my whole house smell wonderful. This last bloom was not quite as large and the blooms had very little scent? Any thoughts?

I appreciate your help, I love this plant and I'd really like to excel at growing it. FYI it's a mackayi.

Susan

I have noted that fragrance in my Zygopetalums is directly linked to sunlight. When I have open flowers during the summer, it's a wonderful smell outdoors! I get the BIGGEST bumblebees in town, too! They're fun to watch--very slow and methodical. Often, I wind up with seed pods, too.

Some people are known to complain when there are two or more Zygo plants simultaneously blooming indoors. They complain that the fragrance is too much! I LOVE IT!!

--Stitz--

I have the same Zygo as Susan, but bought it just last fall as a small plant, just one spike, I think three pb's. It has not rebloomed for me, but has put out new growth in the last couple of months--I'm not sure I have it in the right place in my house--ie do I put it where the Phals are happy, or closer to the cattleyas and oncs?
Interestingly, it doesn't have a single spot, whereas pretty much all my Oncidium types are speckled...
Also, I noticed mine was fragrant intermittently thoughout the day
nick

Stitz,
I love the scent, too, and my DH also commented on how nice it was. It smelled great blooming in Dec/Jan. This last time it bloomed a bit later in the winter. The sunlight in my window was certainly less while the plant spiked and grew in my house the second time, than it had been the first time in the orchid greenhouse. HMMMM?

Wiscnick,
These plants spike on the new growth, while the new growth is still very young, so you may get spikes yet. Some people give their phals more sun than others so I can't comment that way. I'm going to increase watering, and morning or mottled sunlight, after reading Stitz's comments, still avoiding hot afternoon sun - feel the leaves and watch their color- if they are warming it's probably too much sun. Good luck with you, let us know if you get bloom.

Thanks, Stitz, wish me luck.

Susan

wiscnick,

Your Zygopetalum mackayi needs more than Phal light. I grow mine where SOME of my Cattleya and Oncidium plants are located, under some protection. I have some Cattleya and Oncidium plants growing in full sunlight which is too strong for Zygos.

Charles Baker writes in his orchid culture sheet that light levels measured at 2000-3000 footcandles are appropriate for Z. mackayi. He also notes that some growers keep their Zygos with Cymbidiums which grow much brighter, up to 4500 in some of Baker's culture sheets! I grow my Zygos under screens which filter the light level to about 4500-5000 fc.

I have noticed that the fragrance seems to be strongest from mid-morning 'til early afternoon. It is noticeable at other times.

Susan, GOOD LUCK! :-)

--Stitz--

Hi Gang !

This is my first year putting orchids outside so I'm just starting.

I recently purchased 3 mini Cymbidiums with the intent to motivate me into outside action ! Those 3 are outside in a temporary NE spot that gets filtered sun (by large trees) until about 11am. I also put 2 mounted Dens (antennatum & chrysotoxum), a mounted Neostylis, and 2 Catt hybrids out with them. We just had 2 storms whip through here and I RAN HOME each time to check them. The first storm blew the tiniest Cym off the shelf (10" including pot with grass thin leaves !!) so I put them all inside clay pots and nothing moved during the recent storm. This summer I'll be building a small deck out back of the house where it gets SE sun. Can't wait to get my Dens out there !!

Chryss