Hi, this time of year I hear lots of stories from people who moved their
plants outside to early and then had to move everything back in or suffer
some other horrible fate. I just wanted to point out to anybody thinking of
summering their plants outside, that you want night temps that stay reliably
in the upper 50 or *preferably* a bit higher into the mid 60s before taking
most tropical orchid plants outside. For instance, the average last frost
date in my area is May 1st but the night temps don't stay warm enough until
closer to June 1st for most tropical orchids. Damp and cool is often a
prescription for disaster. You may get away with it, you may not.

I just listened to a customer tell me how he moved all his plants outside
last week when it was warm and then carried them all back in because we are
having a week of low 40 night temps. It's one of those seasonal stories I
am reminded of every year; like when I worked in a nursery and in late
summer people start seeking a cure for their White Pines which they are
convinced are sick because most of their older needles are turning yellow
and dropping off. "but aren't they suppose to be evergreen?"

Don't be one of those people.