Can My Cattleya Live Outside?

by Maria Perez

I just got my first Cattleya. I have an outdoor spare on the north side of my house, no direct sun but lots of light. I would like to keep out there since my indoors is sort of dark. Can they grow outdoors?

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Jul 17, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Cattleya Can Live Outdoors In Some Places, Depends On The Weather
by: Melissa

Hi Maria,

Thanks for your question.

How great that you have your first Cattleya. They are beautiful orchids.

Cattleya orchids like relatively high light situations and also like it warmer. It is important not to have them in any direct sunlight however. It sounds like your area might work. But since only you know the light and temperature variations in the area where you would like to put them, you would need to be the judge.

They can live outdoors in some places but it depends a lot on where you live and what the weather is like and the light and temperature in the area where you want to put them.

Cattleya like I said like high light but no direct sun. In a greenhouse they are usually in what is considered an "intermediate" greenhouse. They like temperatures no higher that 82 F. (28 C.) and in the winter the temperatures must not fall much below 59 F. (15 C.)

Depending on the time of year you might be able to have them outside for part of the year.

Under no circumstances should they be outside when the temperatures get really low or freeze. If the temperatures would fall below 50 F. (10 C.) they should definitely come inside.

If you can not find the right place outside and it is too dark in your house you might consider an artifical light situation to grow them and bloom them more successfully.

Hope this helps!

Melissa
www.orchids-plus-more.com




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