growing outside
 

Hello al,
even tho I have a 10x12 attached greenhouse w/shed roof, I put my vandas, catts, dens, and other assorted species out under a huge Norway spruce tree in my front yard. I put all the plastic pots inside clay pots for extra wieght, and put all the pots close together. Vandas hang off a rod strung between two heavy branches. This has been the rainiest summer ever so have been spraying copper fungicide and neem oil to try and prevent rot...so far, so good. Have been rewarded with lotsof vanda and den bloom--the plants get fitered sun all day long, and are very happy. Phals stay on a screen porch as do any small seedling plants. I cannot say enough about the benefits og summering outdoors. Sure you have to start a spray program about Sept 4 here in KY to make sure you dont drag intruders in, but that is not haard to do.
My g house was just too hot--temps here in summer top 94 sometimes, and witha small attached greenhouse, even with swamp cooler (ineffective in our humidity) and ventilation and misting I could not keep it below 89 or 90. It's just better outside!
Good growing to all of you--try outside, your plants will love it--and yes you will lose a few blooms here and there.
Suzyq:)

I also cannot say enough about summering the orchids outdoors. It gives them so much vim and vigour that it's enough to hold them over during the dull winter months and even produce some bloom. We also have to start a spray program to eliminate possible critters the first week of September or thereabouts. The phals are the first to come indoors but the catts can stay out a little longer. During the spray time I start gradually getting the indoor area and humidity trays disinfected and ready for the plants.

I grow outside here in NC during the summer and fall with great success. I grow under lights during the winter months so outdoors during the summer gives my plants a wonderful boost to sustain them through the winter months when conditions aren't quite so favorable.

What are you treating them with when you bring them indoors ? Also do you ever have issues with earwigs?

I usually drench the pot and all in a good systemic to kill anything that has settled in the pot and then use the same spray or maybe insecticidal soap on the leaves. I will spray several times before bringing my plants indoors. Also, it would be a good idea to switch products from time to time as insects can and do become used to a product over time and resistance can be avoided by using a different product. Earwigs are common in my area also and do get in my pots. The drench should take care of them. Be careful when spraying around the buds and flowers as they can be damaged by the chemicals. That seems to work well for me. You'll need to decide what you are willing to do and I'm sure other people can offer other and maybe better advice for you growing conditions.

Safer Soap works well for earwigs. You can also dunk the pot in water and leave it there for ten to fifteen minutes. This will drive the earwigs out. Just be sure to weight down the media so it won't float away.

We've got a few earwigs around my new house. My last place which I left 1 1/2 yrs ago, they were so bad when I tried growing sweet corn They chewed the silk off all the ears. I could watch them at night do it.

Growing outdoors in Centra N.J.
 

Hello;
During the summer months, here in Central N.J.( May to early October) I place my Orchids outdoors. The problems I have encountered are squirrels and chipmunks digging out the plants and squirrels chewing on the leaves. I also have found slugs and earwigs on and in the pots.
My thought to counter all of this is to build an orchid house of a sorts. That is a wooden frame that will be totally enclosed in screen material and a pitched
poly carbon clear roof material. This will control the squirrels and chipmunks and also the slugs and bugs. Has anyone else tried building something similar?
All 4 sides will be open to the air so that air will be able to pass thru. Having the roof ill allow me to control watering.

Jeff

That's a great idea to go on. But if you don't want to spend more time on building then try for the natural way to get rid of those creatures. Try Planting daffodils near your orchid plant as squirrels and chipmunks do not like the smell or taste of daffodils. They will stay away from your plants. For slugs use crushed egg shells or sand around the plant.