Orchids: Just Lurking - Like a bump on a Vanda, 1 by fredrump

fredrump wrote:
Elaine,
my orchids have seen quite a decline over the summer months when they are subject to daily rains. They don't like it and many have rotted on me. I'm learning as I go along. I thought water was good for orchids but they really need to be dry between waterings. In the summer they never get that chance and will eventually die.

I built myself an orchid shade house and just finished a mysting system which goes off every three hours for 5 minutes. This keeps the leafs moist but doesn't soak the roots. They only get watered once a week. I'm going to get a solid tarp of some kind for when the rains come and then water manually as now. I hope that will help with the survival rate in the outdoor environment I have them in.