I totally agree. I didn't get any blooms either. My gargen especially suffered. Usually I start picking tomatoes around the fourth of July. I just picked my first one, a pathetic 2" thing. What with the cost of the plants, potting soil and fertilizer, I figure it cost $40.

Susan, Perhaps your selection of plants may be partially responsible. I have "cooler" growing species that seemed to enjoy most of Summer, 2009 -- 'til the recent hot weeks when they began to languish. Then, my few "warmer" growers seemed to wake up with a spurt of growth!

--Stitz--

I've had much more growth this year. A typical July-August here has many days in the high 90"s-- most orchids, even warm lovers stop growing at those temps.

I took advantage of the cooler summer to increase the light. that, and temps in the much more moderate 80's has meant much more growth.

I've been watching this thread wondering what people would be saying. Reason being that I'm in mehitabel's camp: I'm seeing more growth now than ever before! Granted, it might have something to do with the fact that those not in S/H usually got grossly underwatered during the summer (too lazy to keep up!), but this year I've kept up with the watering. If the summer has indeed been cooler-and I'd say the first half was but the 2nd half caught up-that coupld possibly explain why my Angraecum Veitchii is spiking about 5 months early!

Here in N. Florida, except for a week or two in the 100F+ range, we have had a cooler summer, too. Highs have only been at the most in the upper 80s rather than mid-90s. Last few nights have been in the low 60s. Can't believe it's August.

My orchids are just dancing! Sheathes and buds everywhere. Even my few cooler growers have been ecstatic. The real proof of how much they love it is the Rumrillara Margaret's Jewels (Ascf Peaches x Rhyn coelestis) which normally has to be brought into the a/c when its spikes start or they will blast from the heat has managed to stay in the greenhouse and not only produced its flowers there, but big spikes loaded with flowers -- far more than I can ever get indoors.

I like this weather.

I am finding less growth also here in Pa. Plants look great but haven't experienced the growth I did last year. Our weather has been very cool until the last couple weeks. We even made it till Aug. 1 before turning the central air on. hmmmmmmm more money for more orchids. LOL Only bad experience was some minor hail damage done to some of my Phals. Now I have to watch for the tent catipillars. Good news is my Rene Marques is throwing up a beautiful spike.

Southern California's Summer sucked! Morning fog, cool temps led to much less growth than the last few years. Blooms were the same. As we speak we are having a heat wave which could last into December.

So far this has not been a good year for me, growth wise. That's the way it crumbles, cookie wise, as Jack Lemmon said once.

Nick

In the Twin Cities, we've had a much cooler summer and have had the AC on about 1/5 the usual time.

Everything but the Hab radiata has been inside. I've wondered why there wasn't more growth on orchids that usually put out 2-3 new growths. Could well be the weather.

Look at the thread 'Frequency of watering during extreme heat'. I brought it forward as during a hot Summer the exact opposite experience was made.

Nick

It has been cool here with morning overcast so that there are fewer hours of sunlight. This has both good and bad. Less worry about overheating and also less growth. Not significantly less, but noticeable.

I have been fighting with my computer and have won, costing *only* $200 and a missed week on EBay. I will try to get caught up on my backlog today.

Here is a link that might be useful: blog

Yes, a very cool summer. The biggest problem from my perspective has been lack of humidity. Good for people, but not that great for mounted plants outdoors. I noticed a low of 49 F is in the forecast for next week. Almost time to bring the plants into the porch until they have to come inside for the winter. I should probably do that this weekend since the grasshoppers are getting kind of bad. If they chew that spike on my Barkeria, I will not be amused.

Kevin

49° ?
geez, it's August!

Little wonder why my brother moved from Northfield, MN to Phoenix, AZ 40 yrs ago!

--Stitz--

I just moved to Chicago where its currently 60 from 107 in Phoenix and Im regretting it already! This is such a miserly summer, unless your doing cool growers, everything might as well take a nap and consider it winter...
I grow mostly warm growers, so all the phals and such have to come indoors.

in my area, we have had only a few days where the temp. is above 80F - during the day, mostly in high 70F. the nights had been in 60f - last few in 50f. I have more spikes and growth than prev. years even the catts and I have 3 vandas blooming- i even have a cymbidium blooming (poor thing must be so confused). I have been wondering if it is because of the wide swings in temperature and we have had rain every second or third day and sometimes it has rained 3-4 days in a row. most of them have been enjoying all this rain outside.
sue

Why do my plants like to make a liar out of me? In my above post I complained about how poorly my orchids grew this summer. I went out there this morning and all I'm seeing are new shoots and new bulbs. Where in the world did they come from?

It's been hotter than a three dollar bill lately. Unless your backyard is on fire, which is true for a good number of them around here, your plants are probably booming right now. I have been watering as often as 4 times per day and am really seeing a response.

The Lord givesth and the Lord takesth, sometimes He givesth, sometimes he takesth, right now pile on the fertilizert and the water and good things will happen.

Nick

Summer started off cool here but quickly went to hot and humid. Today is 68 and sunny. So happy fall is here!