For better or worse...

[Gilda]

Most of my orchids went outside to the shade house today..and they will not come back in till Sept. or Oct. !

[thistle]

So, Gilda, do you put most of your phals outside? & do you have problems w/ 'critters'?-I have aggressive squirrels...are yours elevated to help w/ the pest problem? i started out with a paph, but I'm getting more & more phals when I go out shopping, I just think they're lovely, even when they're not blooming....Thistle

[sadie]

I have aggressive squirrels...are yours elevated to help w/ the pest problem?

Agressive squirrels -- too funny. I'd love to put my orchids out, but in addition to agressive squirrels (a problem I had not yet even considered) I have two HUGE dogs. I have never read in any orchid book that 200 pounds of dog will help your orchids grow.

[orchidaddict789]

I'd love my orchids to be outside, but every year there are these beetle invasions that chew up all the plants. And who says orchids aren't delicious?

And those squirrels...I see 'em running around all over the place...

[Gilda]

My phals,paphs and phrags don't go outside....kinda like an overprotective Mom on them. However ,they would be Ok as the shade house is covered. The orchids are so packed in the shade house though ,I am afraid water might get in the crowns.
Vandas(hang), oncid. x's, dends. and catts all go out.
The only critters I have are earwigs, and I found a snail bait that works on them if sprinkeled underneath the pot. My bench is waist level so it does not sit on the ground. I occasionally have a bird that tries to nest in there ,and one year we had an invasion of chipmunks, they had sunflowers growing in all my pots !
I really think orchids benefit from being outside and also it is easier for repotting and watering.

[LJA]

I'd be scared to take phals outside for the summer, at least around here. Tried one year and got all kinds of terrible pseudomonas problems.