Pros and Cons of outside for the summer

[Meg25]

Hello, I have an oncidium, once it stops blooming I am going to repot it and potentially take it outside for the summer. However I understand that this can lead to insect problems. What do you all recommend? Meg

[TundraKev]

I move everything outside for the summer. The plants love it and I rarely have any insect problems other than grasshoppers late in the season. You do have to be careful about those 'cause they can really chew stuff bad. I'm very late at getting stuff out this year just because the weather was so cold, but as of last weekend everything is out. I can see the difference in growth already.

I've complained about this before and will probably continue to do so for the rest of my life. Squirrels can be deadly. They can rip a plant to shreds in seconds. I lost many orchids to them in the past, but this year I made an enclosure covered with chicken wire. The orchids are all safe now from those creatures. If you have squirrels around, they probably will attack your plant unless you protect it. The hassel of doing so is well worth the effort. Orchids outside just thrive.

[Tanya]

I agree with Kev, orchids love to be outside if the weather is warm enough for them. What I can add is that among the orchids that I grow outside, its the Oncidiums and its hybrids that are very susceptible to rot especially the young growth. So if you decide to move your Oncidiums outside, do provide some protection for them against the rain.

[shalene]

I move mine outside for the summer also. They seem to love it and grow like crazy. It also makes watering a lot easier and I get to come out of the basement for a few months. I haven't had any trouble with bugs other than a few grasshoppers in the late summer and those did minimal damage because I watched for them. I actually have more problems with bugs inside due to close quarters than I do outside. I had been fighting an aphid infestation the last few months and now that they are all outside the aphids are gone. Got to love those beneficial insects and they love aphids!!!
Shalene

[LJA]

I'll move some of the vandas out. They really like hanging under the maple, and it's easier to cut the sprinkler loose on them twice a day outside. Otherwise everything near and under them in the GH stays too soggy when I have to water that often.

[Meg25]

Thanks for the great advice- I will try to build an enclosed structure that can help protect them from the rain! Thanks again -Meg