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Apr 26, 2019 8:45 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
Foliage Fan Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tropicals Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
While I love having my single orchid inside, I really dont have enough light indoors for it. It blooms beautufully but sparsely. I would love to display her blooms outside, perhaps in a wood woven "cage" type pot as opposed to mounted so I can bring it in in the winter. Currently she is in a ceramic orchid pot, growing crazy slow. I've had for about 3 years.

How and when the best way to move it outside? Houston area currently is having a very nice spring with temps near 80's but unusual low humidity.
Thumb of 2019-04-26/ShadyGreenThumb/756af0
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
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Apr 26, 2019 10:20 AM CST
Name: Daisy I
Reno, Nv (Zone 6b)
Not all who wander are lost
Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Do you have a spot outside in the shade all day?
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming...."WOW What a Ride!!" -Mark Frost

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Apr 26, 2019 10:27 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
Foliage Fan Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tropicals Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
I do...and lucky me, its in front of the living room window! Shade is never a problem for me in my yard.
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
Last edited by ShadyGreenThumb Apr 26, 2019 10:27 AM Icon for preview
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Apr 26, 2019 12:09 PM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Shady, you really don't want to put this orchid outside.
Why? It is a Phalaenopsis Orchid and does not need ANY direct sunlight. You can grow it perfectly fine indoors.
The basics are grow it in bright light, no sun, water it about every five days, repot once a year. Very little plant food.
It prefers temperatures from 55-85 degrees. In the higher end for the summer, lower range for the winter.
I suspect that it is going to be too hot in the summer, constant daytime highs over 85 degrees will take its toll on the health of the plant.
Ceramic pots are not suitable for the majority of orchids. You can use clay or plastic, mount it, put it in a basket but ceramic is not a good idea.
So in summary, you said that you wanted to put it outside because you felt that it needed better light. With that not being the case, consider leaving it inside.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Apr 26, 2019 5:23 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
Foliage Fan Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tropicals Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
It was in my greenhouse, I can't remember when? But it bloomed like crazy in there in the summer! It's just not blooming much indoors. Thought it wanted "more something" since it blooms one flower at a time. But what? I give it everything except I can't control the sunlight. So... I plan on getting it out of the orchid pot. It's out growing it. Roots all over the place. Going with a basket this time.
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
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Apr 26, 2019 5:38 PM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Cheryl, it is very odd that a Phalaenopsis is only producing a single flower at a time. Normally I would pinpoint improper light that keeps an orchid from blooming, but with Phalaenopsis, we have to look at other issues possibly being the cause of lower flower production.
And those are:
Too much fertilizer! Orchids are not heavy feeders. So if you fertilize regularly, that could lead to root and leaf growth but not flower growth. Fertilizing two or three times a year is plenty.
Too even a temperature range!
Most Phalaenopsis like a 10-15 degree difference between day and night temperature. If it were to be grown in a limited range, say 68 at night and days of 70, that might not generate more flowers.
These are just my ideas from all my years of growing. I hope that one is maybe the culprit and in the future you will see more flowers!!
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
Last edited by BigBill Apr 26, 2019 5:40 PM Icon for preview
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Apr 26, 2019 8:03 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Greenhouse Plant Identifier Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Plumerias Ponds
Foliage Fan Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tropicals Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Thanks @ BigBill Bill! I fertilize 3 x year. An Orchid fertilizer diluted in water slightly weaker than prescribed. It sits over (not on) a pebbles with water. I will say our indoor temps are definitely stable with little variance, certainly not 15 degree difference. Like today, the a/c didn't even come on. I am pretty sure it stayed at 75-77 all day indoors. That is typical for the spring, In the summer months, a/c comes on and keeps temperatures steady inside 77-80 while temps climb to 90's outside.

I am going to repot it, and move it outside in the shade when the humidity comes up. And watch it very carefully. We are in a tropical region. Hopefuly this phal will like it?? I appreciate your insight. I never thought I would get it to bloom again. But it did. One nice, big bloom which I should be happy with. but I am stubborn. There is one more inflo on the stem but I agree, there should be more flowers.
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
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