I feel sick-whole collection in jeopardy

[Elitebettas]

Storms are expected at this time in florida. I have all of my orchids-alittle over 100 on my non screened patio . The rain was literally blowing sideways into the patio, thrashing around most of them. The aftermath-WATER covering everything, all in the leaf axils, in new growths-Vandas, Grammatophyllums, dendrobiums, paphs, phals, cattleyas, oncidiums, the list goes on and on-and convienently right before nightfall and our temp drop.
I try my best when watering not to let any water drop on my plants. To take cutips and tissue paper and wick out all the water would take from now until tomorrow morning for that many plants.
So for all you outside growers hanging plants under trees etc. WHen it rains, do you see yellow leaves and rot a few days later? WHat makes some plants rot under these conditions and some thrive? Such a shame, I've spent years building up my collection and never had something like this happen-crazy.

[Gin]

That is the pits know what u mean .I have very few outside here in Mo. we have been having a lot of rain and hail .. can you set a fan on them if not raining now ? that would help dry faster . Gin

[Ron-NY]

out in the wild, it can rain at any time of the day...the important thing is good air circulation.

[sand_tiger86]

^ I agree. If they are outside they should be ok, assuming the air is not stagnant. In jungles it rains in the middle of the night...it's natural. It takes a fairly consistent accumulation of moisture plus stagnant and/or cold air to kill an orchid.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Yep, keep the air moving around them and they should do ok. Best of luck to you.

Cheers,
BD

[Molly Taco]

I grow everything outside. I try to keep most orchids hanging as they have better air circulation. I treat with the blue bottle every 2-4 weeks depending on the rain fall and humidity. I water with the hose and don't use the Q'tips. I have to say in my grow house it is a live or die situation. I also have lots of chids growing in trees that hardly ever
get watered or treated and they do better than the somewhat pampered babies.
Cin

[Bikerdoc5968]

The other thing that comes to mind and may help....some may think this over kill, but my outside hangers are under a gigantic very old oak tree....a real oak not your Florida Live Oaks...and because of it, I guess, I get lots of mold on the deck and I assume the chids, too. So following a rain I spray with RD-20 (Physan 20) and hope the breeze continues....

[cherublace]

I'm in georgia, we have lots of rain now too. A month ago I thought they would all croak after two weeks of major storms, but they have lots of new growth. Some hang, others sit on a shelf and all seem to be doing well despite the direct waterfall! Good Luck!!!!