Hi folks, This is a 2-part question and I'll welcome any advice you have to offer.

Hopefully it'll be warm enough in Chicago to start summering my plants some. I do understand that they need to be inclimated to the sun a little at a time.

Last summer I lost some plants due to burn so I suppose they weren't properly shaded. They were under larger leaf tropical plants so possibly got too hot.

I have a 600 sq foot L-shaped patio that gets both south and east exposure. I'm wondering if anyone could suggest a type of "structure" or even the proper fabric that I might use to provide some shading yet be breathable. Last year I hung some of the plants in trees on the patio but there was too much rain.

My plants consists of some Phaphs (which probably don't need to go out, right?), some Phals (with shade), some Onc., and some mini-catts (which I understand can take a higher temp range).

Throughout the winter I used both a "bloom buster" and "superthrive" on the plants. I saw growth that I'd not seen before in previous winters. Is it now time to stop using those products and use orchid fertilizer as the growth is coming on?

Much thanks for you advise to a novice.