If you are going to make some sort of shade house, it should be in a sunny spot. Vary the shading according to the type of orchids you are growing.

Sorry about the link, here is a pic. Frame made of water pipe. Shade is two layers of 50% shade cloth in summer which gives 80% shade but that is in nearly all day sun.

The only orchids grown in my home are Phalaenopsis. Every thing else is in glass -houses, the shade-house (about 30 x 15 foot) or in the yard.

You need advice from the real orchid growers re. summering outside.

Shade House Latitude 34S

Yes, I do. Your pictures are great!!!! I could just come move in with you. Don't you need help with all of those orchids? Seriously, you took my imagination over a hurdle. I'll "design" a shadehouse topped with polycarb. Fairly deep with a stepped bench and places to hang a few baskets inside and outside. I've got just the spot. Thanks, arthur.

Most orchids like 50 degrees or higher. Some will take the 40's. If you live in the northeast your orchids will fail in the cold.

No. Just summering them outside, unless I opt for a heated greenhouse. Otherwise for the cold months I have three rooms for growing in artificial light and providing various aspects of climate control. One of them large enough for a tent enclosure. Last night I experimented with shutting off a small room and cracking open a window, trying for a diurnal drop of 15 degrees and close to 55 for some intermediate orchids. It worked, and my garage is incorporated into the house as well but not directly heated. I have a min/max thermometer in there to see how it did last night. could put dormant dendrobiums in there for their cool off period.

John, what i like about cooling a room is that the humidity is never a concern like a heated room. Plus, many need a cool dry period to initiate buds. Nice