When to move them out
 

Good Afternoon all and Happy Spring!
Since the frost danger has finally passed, I've been itching to get some of my 'chids outside. I have accepted the fact that I can't have a greenhouse (unless I win the lottery and move!). So, I'll be using my north facing porch as a grow area AND I have considered creating a shade house on my south facing deck. With that being said, I have a few questions:
1. Can I move any out yet? I was thinking the front porch first. Very little (if any) direct sunlight- but not as much heatup as my baking back deck.
2. Will Aluminet still allow for natural air circulation? I plan to move my Vandas and Catts out when the weather gets warmer. but I'm concerned about air flow.
I would love any thoughts and/or suggestions you may have. thank you in advance and have a good day!

Your back deck can hold your Vandas since they want warm bright environment=but if it gets a heatwave you need to water twice a day....
The front porch will be ideal for your Phals and Catts lined up in front of the window and some may be hanged....
Your grow zone has no frost but there is still some chill ( 34F to 36F ) in the night this weekend. Maybe next week if the night temps rise above 40F then you may put your orchids outdoors.....your brick wall will retain heat to warm your plants at night but better be safe.

Not sure I can address your second one, but the first one was always a question for me on this forum initially.

Ideally, I researched all of my orchids to find out what the typical lows and highs were temperature wise and based my assessment of when to bring them in off of that. For example, my standard Cymbidiums I leave out until the night temps threaten to drop past 35F. Originally, I assumed taking them out would be the same although it probably isn't.

Remember, your plants have been inside through the cold months and have become accustomed to the highs and lows inside the house in their particular spots. To move the standard Cymbidiums (example only) out when night temps raise above 35F would basically be like you stepping from a hot shower into a tub of ice cubes, lol... It would be a shock!

Personally, I shoot for about a 5 to 10 F difference between my inside temp for each area and night low temp outside. It won't be so much of a shock. If they have some good time to be outside in the weather and a drop lower than that occurs, I use my best judgment if I should bring them in or if they can withstand it given the temps they would tend to experience in nature.

Hope that helps!


Paul McMahon
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

+1 to previous posting.

For Vandaceous group you need to be sure that night temp will not drop below 55F, as that causes them to sulk for a long time.

When to move them out
 

According to the garden diary I keep, my plants don't go out until May. Last year I took my Platyceriums out in April but had to put them back because of a cold front. I would like to bring everything out earlier but don't look forward to the work to put everything back when the temps go down too much. Better safe than sorry. (And, as you can see, I live way south of you) :biggrin:
Beverly A.

Hi Amy, aluminet allows some airflow because it's a woven product, with the relative openness of the weave determining how much light is reflected. The lower reflection percentage grades let through more air and light than the higher ones simply because of bigger gaps in the weave.