Growing orchids under trees in NC zone 7

[judygrove]

I have grown my orchids (phals, oncidiums, cats, paphs, cymbidiums and a new militoniopsis) under grow lights for several years. Now my collection has expanded to the point I feel they would get better air circulation and humidity if I put them outside this spring/summer. The problem is I live in the woods. The areas I am considering all show "shade" on a sun calculator. The most viable gets morning sun (filtered) for about two hours. This area doesn't have any trees directly overhead but is heavily surrounded by them. Will this work or will this strong filtered light be too little?

Thanks,
Judy

[Orchidophile]

I put mine out for the summer in filtered shade and some start to turn red from the sunlight so I would say it would be fine or at least try it.

[(..._...)]

i had my phals and miltoniopsis out in shade last summer, and the miltoniopsis was recieving the MAX amount of light it could tolerate (the leaves were really light green, with a reddish tinge to the ends). Maybe the others can tolerate more light?
This is my first year growing higher light orchids, so I will experiment with placing them outside as well

Good luck!!

[judygrove]

Thanks for your input. I have a feeling being out in the natural light is providing more for the plant than the grow lights so it may work. I'm going to give it a try and watch them closely.

[Royal]

Mine limp along inside all winter, then leap when I put them outside. I try to take advantage of my hot, humid growing season here. Your climate should be pretty close to mine here in East TX.

One tip, if it makes the phals and paphs happy, the Cats and Cymbs will need more light.

[judygrove]

Thanks, Royal. The way I have it figured I can put the cats and cymbidiums at one end and the phals and paphs at the other where there is more shade. Fortunately the set-up we are working with will allow it to be moved so I can play with it a bit.

Judy

[orchidbroke1]

Judy,
I don't know if anyone else has had this problem but when I lived in the country and hung a couple of orchids in the trees something took a big ole tasty bite from one of my catts. That broke me of putting them outside for a while but I am trying it again this year!