Look around at your outside garden. Can it
use more color? Can it use more fragrance? Orchids can easily provide
these and more to your garden.
There are certain things you need to
observe before adding orchids to the garden.
First, choose the outside orchid plants
that grow well and these include:
Cattleyas - the hybrids and especially
those with the Laelia orchids
Cymbidiums - are low temperature
tolerant
Epidendrums - these can use full sun
and also are temperature tolerant
Dendrobiums
Paphs - the green leaf variety
Light
most orchids in outdoor gardens do not need
full sunlight. In fact, most do best in a bright area with indirect sunlight or
sunlight through leaves of trees. Paphs prefer shaded areas. Whereas epidendrums
and cymbidiums can get mostly full sun.
Humidity
Generally humidity is not a problem ingardens except in the Southeast region of the US where it is dry.
Temperature
Most outside orchids need the temperature
change between day and nught to help produce those fragrant flowers. This is the
same when they are in-doors. Except cymbidiums which can withstand temps to
almost freezing. Most orchids can remain outside as long as the night temps is
about 50 degree F.
Fertilizer
Like the old adage, fertilize weakly (1/2
to 1/4 strength) weekly.
Watering
Your orchids in the outside garden actually
will be dependent on how much rainfall and sunlight and the ambient temperature.
If there has been a good rainfall during the week the plants will not need to be
watered but if it has been hot and dry there may be a need to water up to twice
a week or even mist daily in the morning.
