north, south, east or west?

[cathy]

i am putting my orchids out for the summer, which way do they want to grow? i want to make sure the new pseudobulbs are aimed in the right direction so i don't get growths all over each other.
thanks, cathy

[raybark]

In the summer the sun is much closer to straight overhead - especially as you move farther south - so I imagine it really doesn't matter much. Additionally, as you're unlikely to put them in direct sun (to prevent burning), whatever shade you provide may be perceived as the light source, further muddying the orientation issue.

I would still orient them so the expected growth is to the south, and keep an eye on them to adjust as the growth occurs.

[cathy]

i hope this attachment shows up, cathy

[Alice-NJ]

Because most orchids grow on rhyzomes, you might check which end the newest growths are, and orient that end toward the light. This doesn't apply to orchids that don't grow on rhyzomes or are budding at each end.