How to Grow Orchid Outdoors

If you want to grow orchids outdoors, there are a few simple steps you can follow. You will have to find out which orchids live in the soil and climate where you live. You also need to regulate the shade and amount of water to help the orchid grow. Although the most common method is to grow orchids in pots, you can also grow them in the ground, in raised gardens, or even on trees.

Table of Contents

Choose orchids

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Choose orchid varieties that grow well in your local climate. Find an orchid that can live outdoors in your area. You can call gardening stores or search the internet for “local orchids in (where you live)”.

In areas where nighttime temperatures in the summer drop below 16 degrees Celsius, you should consider growing cymbidiums. ^{[1] X Research Source}
If nighttime temperatures in the summer are often above 16 degrees Celsius, try growing vanda orchids or cattleyas.

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Buy orchids at a store that sells plants instead of buying seeds. Bonsai shops (as well as many supermarkets and general stores) sell orchids year-round. You can go to your favorite bonsai store and ask if they sell orchids that live naturally in the area. Buy orchid plants instead of flower seeds, as orchid seeds require sterile conditions and take 2-5 years to flower. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If the store doesn’t have the orchid variety you’re looking for, you should ask which orchid grows well in your area. They will tell you orchids that can live well outdoors.
In addition, you can also buy orchids online.

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Wait until the last frost has passed before taking the orchid outdoors. Orchids are tropical plants, so they do not tolerate cold temperatures. You need to make sure the average temperature is above 13 degrees to bring the plant out. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If you need to bring plants into the house, you should place the plant in a north, south or east window.

Planting orchids outdoors

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Gradually expose the potted orchid to sunlight. Orchids grown in pots need to be used to the sun. Initially, you should expose the plant to the sun for 1-2 hours in the morning and afternoon. A week later, you can move the plant to a sunny place for 3-4 hours in the morning and afternoon. In 1-2 weeks, you will bring the plant out to a place where it can receive sunlight before 10 am and after 2 pm. From that point on, you can grow plants outdoors. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Orchids do not like strong sunlight, so you should find a shady location from 10 am to 2 pm; Make sure the orchid is only exposed to morning and afternoon sunlight, when it is cooler. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Grow orchids in pots for convenience and mobility. When growing orchids in pots, you can move the plant anywhere you like. Choose a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom, as the orchid’s roots can rot if there is too much standing water in the pot. Gently remove the orchid from its pot and place it in a planter that is the same size or slightly wider. Potted orchids need to be kept tight enough so that they do not wobble. If necessary, fill in the void with a mixture of 2 parts pine bark and 1 part peat moss. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Do not place the orchid pot in another pot.
Always remember to wash the flower pot before planting.

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Plant orchids to beautify the garden. Replace the soil in the location where the orchid is intended to be planted with a mixture of sand, sphagnum moss (sometimes called “orchid moss”), and gravel in equal proportions. Make sure to spread a layer of gravel mix at least 30cm thick under and around the orchid. Dig a hole large enough to place the orchid in, plant a tree, and fill in the space with a gravel mix. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can grow cycads such as Pleione, Sobralia, Calanthe, Phaius and Bletia on well-drained soil with plenty of shade.
You can also make a raised garden to grow orchids.

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Try hanging orchids on the tree to create a unique accent for the garden. Use cotton rope (or self-destruct string) to lightly tie the orchid stem to the tree. Within a year, the rope will decompose and the orchid will take root in the tree trunk. This method works best if you live in a warm and rainy climate. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Choose trees where light can reach the trunk, such as oaks, citrus, melaleuca, or palm trees.
In areas where full sun lasts 6-8 hours a day, you should try growing vanda orchids.
In places that don’t get a lot of full sun, you can grow oncidiums, phalaenopsis, and cattleyas.

Caring for orchids outdoors

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Water the orchid roots in the morning every few days. Water the plants in the early morning of the day; Irrigate the roots, avoid watering the leaves. Place the orchid pot in the kitchen sink and turn on the faucet for 15 seconds, then place it somewhere where the water runs out to dry. You should water in the morning for sunlight to help the plant grow. If you wait until evening to water, the soil will stay wet all night and can lead to late blight. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Use your finger to check the moisture in the soil to avoid over-watering. If the soil is still damp, wait another day before watering.

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Spray homemade insecticide every 3 weeks. Every 3 weeks, you should spray on orchid leaves a mixture of 1 liter of water, 2-3 drops of neem oil and a drop of dishwashing liquid to prevent insects. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Spray only a sufficient amount to cover the orchid; The rest you can use for other plants in the garden if you want. Reconstitute the mixture each time you spray instead of storing it; The ingredients in the mixture will decompose rapidly after being mixed with water.
Place the orchid pot off the ground so that insects do not easily crawl up.

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Pull out the weeds as soon as you notice them sprouting. Keep a large tweezers near the orchid pot to easily pull out weeds as soon as you see them. Weeds are small, often green, plants that do not grow but grow at the location where you plant your orchid. ^{[11] X Research Source}

You’ll have the best chance of permanently eradicating weeds if you remove their roots or bulbs. Dig underneath the sprouting area until all the roots or tubers of the weed are uprooted.

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Cure black rot or brown spot by cutting off infected parts. If brown, black, or transparent patches appear on the orchid, disinfect the scissors or knife by soaking in rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes, then cut off the infected part of the plant. Spray a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water on the cut and discard the infected plant. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Cut off the infected plant until only healthy tissue remains on the plant. These diseases are very contagious if left untreated.
These diseases are usually spread through water. You can prevent this by making sure your orchid’s soil is loose and well-drained, and consider moving your orchid somewhere else with better air circulation.
Be sure to clean cutting tools after removing infected parts to avoid spreading to other plants.

Advice

If the orchid is not native to the area, change the environment of the plant by adjusting the amount of water and moving the orchid to change the light level to the needs of the plant.
If you live in a hot and humid climate, such as Florida and Southeast Asia, you should grow Vanda and Epidendrum orchids outdoors. In an area where it’s comfortable during the day and cool at night, like southern California or coastal New Zealand and Australia, you can grow Cymbidium in your garden.

Warning

Butterflies and bees can pollinate orchids grown outdoors. Pollination can cause orchids to produce seeds and stop flowering.
Check for insects on the orchid, including the root ball, before bringing the plant into the house.

Steps

Choose orchids

Planting orchids outdoors

Caring for orchids outdoors

Advice

Warning

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