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Can Phalaenopsis orchids be kept outdoors in the yard and rained on heavily?

Flower Cultivation By Grace Miller 0 views
Growing Phalaenopsis orchids outdoors? It really works! Dodge the high heat in summer, make the most of the light in spring and autumn, and guard against root rot in the rainy season, so even beginners can handle it with ease! Temperature: The most comfortable temperature for Phalaenopsis is 15-30°C. In winter, once it drops below 10°C, you need to build it a warm shelter (just enclose it with clear plastic film, and remember to leave a ventilation opening), otherwise it is prone to cold damage;

Growing Phalaenopsis orchids outdoors? It really works! Dodge the heat in summer, grab the light in spring and autumn, prevent root rot in the rainy season - even beginners can handle it easily!

Temperature

The most comfortable temperature for Phalaenopsis orchids is 15-30℃10℃you have to build it a warm shelter (just enclose it with clear plastic film, and remember to leave ventilation holes), otherwise it easily gets frostbitten; in summer, once it goes above 35℃you must move it back indoors - full sun outdoors +high heat, and the roots will rot on you in no time!

tips: Keep the day-night temperature difference at 8-10℃25℃ by day and 17℃ at night - then flower buds will quietly pop up in droves, and next year's bloom will be even denser~

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Light

Spring and autumn are the "golden growing season". The sunlight from 7-9 in the morning and 5-7 in the evening is the softest; give it 3-4 hours a day and the leaves will turn a glossy green; when the midday sun is fierce, you must pull on 50% shade netting (you can buy it online for just over ten yuan), letting a bit of scattered light through is enough - otherwise the leaves will get scorched spots, and their looks will plummet!

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Potting medium+Drainage

Never use ordinary garden soil! Phalaenopsis roots are "aerial roots" and need to breathe~ I recommend decayed pine bark +sphagnum moss (ratio 1:1), which is loose yet water-retentive; the pot must be placed on a raised plant stand (wood /metal both work), with the bottom of the pot at least 10cm off the ground, so that when it rains the excess water can drain away quickly, eliminating any risk of root rot!

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Season-by-season care

Summer (June-August): during the hot hours (from 12 noon-4 in the afternoon), mist around the pot 2-3 times a day; the evaporating water carries away heat, keeping the air humidity at 60%-70%, so the leaf tips won't dry out; if your yard is in a heavy-rain area, you must put up a rain shelter (use clear glass or plastic panels, set at a slant to drain easily); if rainwater pours into the pot for more than 2 hours, the roots will suffocate from lack of oxygen!

Rainy season/typhoon days: ahead of typhoon season, tie the pots to the plant stand with rope so the gale doesn't blow them over; if it rains continuously for more than 3 days, as soon as the weather clears spray once with carbendazim (diluted 1000 times), focusing on the underside of the leaves and the surface of the potting medium, to prevent black spot and stem rot~

Spring and autumn: besides light management, this is when you can feed the orchid some fertilizer--use a diluted orchid-specific fertilizer (balanced nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium type), once every 2 weeks, weak but frequent feeding, and the leaves will grow thicker, storing up plenty of energy for blooming~

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Winter: keep the temperature in the warm shelter below 25℃; too warm will disrupt dormancy; when the air is dry, place a basin of water inside the shelter (don't water the flowers directly), keeping humidity at around 50%

Actually, Phalaenopsis orchids aren't that delicate; the natural light and ventilation of an outdoor environment can actually make them "sturdier"~ Try these methods once, and next spring you'll be rewarded with a whole yard of Phalaenopsis orchids.


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