The overcast "May gray" and "June gloom" are perfect for giving plants a chance to adapt to the brighter light outside. (And even when it is cloudy, it is still pretty bright... you can get sunburned during a cloudy day at the beach, all the more a hazard since it is cool and therefore pleasant for more hours) Now is the time! Later, when the sun is strong, if the plants aren't acclimated they can toast, while if they have had a chance to acclimate while the light is more gentle, they can handle the extra light. How much extra light? It depends on your yard - if you have trees, etc. giving shade during the middle of the day, some such as Catts, Australian Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums can be fine in the open. Most of the rest will benefit from some shade - I have shade cloth over my entire growing area, 60% for most of it and 45% for the Cyms and L. anceps. In summer, my yard gets 14 hours or so of very bright sun since there is no shading from trees and is oriented east-west. So you have to think of light duration as well as intensity. There is no "book" or set of rules that can provide the "fine tuning" - you have to observe since every yard is a little different. And sun angle changes with the seasons.
Last edited by Roberta; 05-23-2023 at 03:19 PM..
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