I realize this won't apply to most people that actively post here, just to the passing reader.
This is a good technique for experienced growers and a great way to be down an orchid if you walk away during the process and accidentally forget the plant.
Plants learn to live where you put them. They grow leaves in equilibrium with light, temperature, available water, etc. If you grow outdoors and delay bringing an orchid in for the season, you can accomplish the temp drop and the orchid is not shocked.
If your orchid is acclimated to growing indoors, taking it out during the day could end up with sunburn because bright indirect outdoor light is still a lot brighter than indoors. Don't get it wrong the orchid loves the extra light, but It's all about leaf temperature. It put out leaves that were adapted to your indoor conditions and it's unable to get rid of the heat.
as you might have guessed, I've cooked a few. Not crispy, just a nice medium rare. We all learn through failure. I have yet to end up with a orchid that has died of over exposure to either light or cold; I watch over this process. I've found that you can deliver this temperature que without involving the sun and avoid the risk all together. Plants can go days without light.
I'm no expert and I encourage people to do their research. Each plant is unique in its nature and the nurturing we have conditioned it to expect. Serious growers wait years for flowers. Most of us (me included) take some credit, for the decade of prior effort, when we buy a flowering sized orchid and get it to spike.
Dendrobium kingianum by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
. I might be looking into that fertilizer you're using. Looks like you have plump psudobulbs and fine looking leaves we should take note of your success!
Orchid TC by Hawken Carlton, on Flickr
- picture from today
