When I grew orchids in NY, I moved them outside as soon as the night temps stayed above 60 degrees. If it dipped into the 40's for one night I didn't worry about it.

I had inexpensive plastic shelves which I put on our deck and near shady areas of the yard.

I highly recommend moving your orchids outside as soon as the weather permits. It makes such a big difference. Leave them outside until Fall. I never brought them inside until there was danger of frost. Usually around the end of September, early October.

Your Phals will start spiking with those drops in temps and your Catts will prepare to bud and bloom. Fresh air, rain, wind and sunshine makes such a difference.

Do it!

Jane

I put all of my plants outside from May to Sept and hang most of them from tree branches around the yard. What type of hanger you use will depend on the type of pot you have.

Some larger pots I use wire hanging basket frames you can get at Home Depot. I'm attaching a link to a company that sells clips that attach to terracotta pots but I don't like using them on anything bigger than a 6" pot, I've had some fall in the past.

Find a spot away from the trunk or other branches. Squirrels will dig in the pots, but I find they ignore them if its difficult for them to reach.

Kellys Corner

Like James, I have mine outside from May-Sept. I hang a few from trees and eaves, I use wire pot hangers that attach to the lips of pots (some are seen in James' link). If a heavier pot, I'll run a wire around the pot and hanger to make sure it can't slip off. I also make my own from finer wire if I'm hanging a lighter plastic pot, I'll poke 3 holes in the rim and attach three 12"-18" wires and combine them at top to form a loop for hanging (like a hanging flower basket). I keep 90% of my outside orchids on stands under my eaves on an east facing patio.

Always ease them out into the outside light, it takes them a couple of weeks to acclimate. If you put them out where there is any direct sun at all, they'll burn. If you ease them out, phals can take some early morning or late afternoon sun after acclimating.

Good luck,

Bob

Thank you so much for the link James! The orchid basket and hangers looks perfect for my orchids!!!!

Thank you Bob! I just found and watched a similar youtube video while searching for orchid baskets.... love the homemade method! I may even hang them from a bamboo rod to try to keep squirrels away!

https://youtu.be/ejQyRZe4AXE