Can northern orchids spend the summer safely under tree shade?

When summer temperatures are high, placing orchids under the shade of a large tree to get through the summer is completely fine, and I think it is a very good way to get through the summer, better than growing them in a cool indoor spot or growing them indoors and outdoors with shade netting. I once knew an orchid grower who had a grapevine in the yard; in summer the orchids were all placed under the grape trellis and grew very well. However, when placing orchids under tree shade in summer, you need to pay attention to the following issues, otherwise it will still be difficult for them to get through the summer.

1. The tree must be large enough

The tree used to shade the orchids from sunlight must be large enough, with fairly dense branches and leaves, and there should be shade from after 10 a.m. to before 6 p.m., with a shading rate of more than 70% at noon. It should not just block the sun for a while at noon, because then the orchids may still get sunburned or die from sun exposure. Especially when the ground is hardened with bricks or cement and the tree is relatively small, orchids are not suitable for being placed under such tree shade in hot weather.

2. Rain protection must be done well

When orchids are grown under tree shade in summer, pay attention to protection against continuous rainy days and heavy rainstorms, which can easily breed bacteria, cause root rot, yellow leaves, leaf spots, etc. If the orchids were originally grown outdoors, a short period of light rain can be allowed to fall on them, which helps growth. If the orchids were originally grown indoors and are now moved outdoors, do not let rain fall directly on them in the short term; only after more than 20 days of outdoor care may they be exposed to light rain. When there is prolonged rainy weather or heavy rainstorms, the orchids should be moved in time to a place where rain cannot reach them. The same applies when there are strong winds, to prevent the orchid leaves from being damaged by wind and affecting their ornamental value.

3. Disease prevention must be done well

For orchids cared for outdoors under tree shade, disease prevention must be done well to avoid diseases arising in hot weather, because outdoors there are more types of pathogens and they are more active, so the chance of infection is greater. Usually observe the orchids' growth and condition, and deal with problems promptly when something seems wrong. For orchids whose growth was not very good to begin with, preventive medication should be used in advance rather than waiting until they get sick to deal with it.

4. Pay attention to watering

For orchids cared for outdoors under tree shade, although the light in the environment is not strong, in hot weather evaporation is high, ventilation and air permeability are good, and air humidity is low, so pay attention to replenishing water in time and keep the potting medium moist. Do not withhold water too much and let the potting medium become too dry, causing the orchids to lack water and develop hollow roots, yellow leaves, dry tips, etc. Some flower lovers, when moving orchids outdoors for care, still water according to the indoor frequency; this is wrong. Outdoors and indoors, the potting medium dries at different speeds, so the watering frequency should be adjusted in time according to changes in the care environment. However, note that watering should still follow the principle of not watering until dry; in hot weather, the harm of watering too much is greater than the harm of watering too little, and if the potting medium is not very good, the roots can rot in no time.

5. Placing them under tree shade where the ground is not hardened works even better

In summer, if orchids can be placed under tree shade where the ground is not hardened, the results are even better; not only is it easier for them to get through the summer, but the leaf color also looks healthier. This is because air humidity in the north is relatively low, and after the ground is hardened, ground moisture evaporation is very weak; even if the orchids can get through the summer smoothly, the jade-green and glossy look of the leaves will be affected. If the ground is not hardened, ground moisture evaporation is strong, and if the orchids receive that ground moisture, the air humidity of the micro-environment is improved, and both growth and color are enhanced. Of course, this is a bonus suggestion; if there is no tree shade with unhardened ground, there is no need to insist on it.

Summary: When summer temperatures are high, placing orchids under tree shade for care is a very good choice, but pay attention to how much tree shade there is, the shading intensity, and the shaded area. Orchids cared for outdoors under tree shade need attention to rain protection, disease prevention, and appropriately frequent watering to ensure the roots do not dry out.