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LIGHT
Light intensities in the great outdoors are much stronger than
they are inside the house. Unless your outdoor space is very heavily
shaded, chances are your orchids will enjoy more light than they
will get indoors. But be warned! Do not to place your plants
directly into bright direct sunlight otherwise you will risk burning
leaves, even on cattleyas and other "high light" orchids.
It takes a while for plants to get acclimatized to the brighter
light. First, move your plants outside to a shady spot either under
a tree of other large leafy patio plants. If you see large brown or
black burn spots on the leaves, move your orchids back into a shady
location. Most of your orchids, even those that like bright light,
will do best in some dappled shade, or where
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they only get
a few
hours of direct sunlight during the day. It is very hard to make
broad recommendations here-conditions in Phoenix are totally
different from those in Seattle. But the take-home message is the
same: gradually expose your orchids to the optimal light conditions
in which they will grow best and, as always, watch your plants
carefully.
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TEMPERATURE
Orchids will thrive outside as long as temperatures remain below
90°. This applies to intermediate and warm growing orchids, which
cover most of the popular genera. Generally, a temperature range
during the day of 75 to 85° will make most orchids happy. Those
that like it's a little cooler can be kept a little shadier. When
temperatures do rise above 90°, be sure your orchids remain moist
and humid with plenty of air movement to keep them cool. You may
wish to move them to shadier location if high temperatures persist.
Many orchids are remarkably resilient, but if your Masdevallia
succumbs to the heat, ask yourself why you are growing such an
orchid in the first place!
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Dendrobium
phalaenopsis thrive hybrids in warm bright humid
conditions
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WATER
Be prepared to change your watering regimen outdoors. Higher light,
usually means higher temperatures. This will require more frequent
watering as your plants will dry out more quickly. If you live in a very
humid area, your orchids may be able to go longer without water, than in a
drier climate. If it rains frequently, you may not have to worry about
your plants very much at all. However, if it rains continuously for
several days, you'll need to watch your plants to make sure they do not
get waterlogged or are preyed upon by bacterial or fungal diseases.
Orchids that require constant moisture are probably at most risk of drying
out. Many orchid growers will keep their moisture loving orchids, such as
paphs and phals, inside the house or greenhouse, rather than risk their
plants totally drying out, which can be fatal. Orchids with pseudobulbs
such as cattleyas or brassias will do a far better job in weathering any
dry spells, as they have the capacity to store water to tide them over. In
summary, be prepared to watch your orchids more closely and to pay more
attention to their watering needs when they are outside. Try to water your
plants early in the day so that they are dry by nightfall.
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Phrag
besseae hybrids will need to be kept shady and cool during the summer months.
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