As a beginner learning how to water your orchids can be difficult, over-watering versus under-watering can seem like balancing on a high wire. When it comes to orchid care, watering orchids correctly seems to be a sticking point for many of us, the usual instructions given are often vague which can lead to disappointment and frustration.
The truth is that there is no general, one-size-fits-all answer to how much and how often to water your orchid. The majority of orchids enjoy alternating periods of wet and dry but many factors affect the frequency and quantity of water your orchid should receive. The type of orchid you are growing, the potting medium/mix it's growing in as well as the local environmental conditions all affect the amount of water your orchid will require to produce its best.
Rest assured if you take the time to experiment with these factors you'll be rewarded time and again with longer more frequent blooms and a far healthier vibrant plant. That said, the following are some well established tips to help you discover your orchids optimal watering requirements.
Environment
Firstly, it is important to take into account the environmental conditions you are growing your orchid in. Mainly the temperature. It would seem obvious that the warmer it is the faster your orchids will dry out. While this is true more often than not, as with most things in life there can be a little more to it. The level of evaporation is also controlled by pesky little factors such as air flow and humidity. A constant air flow around your plant will aid evaporation as will a low humidity. If you recognise that your orchids are kept in conditions like these such as indoors, near air conditioning vents or open windows, or perhaps near a heat source; anything that may alter the general conditions in your growing space. Then you may need to adjust your watering schedule to compensate. If you're not sure, just take a look around.
Take into account the changing seasons also. It sounds obvious but it's easy to forget sometimes. If you're growing and watering your orchids indoors, it may feel hot to you but it may be cooler than you think.
Try watering your orchids early in the day so they get plenty of time to dry out before the cooler night temperatures set in.
On Closer Inspection
Take a good look at the potting mix/media you are using. Does it retain moisture well? Is it tightly packed? Is it decomposing? Does it allow for plenty of air flow around the roots of your orchid? What sort of pot is your orchid in? All these things affect how often you will need to water your orchid. Some potting mediums will retain moisture well like sphagnum moss or bark while others may allow for better drainage. Tightly packed or decomposing media may prevent evaporation holding excess water around the roots for longer than necessary and may even damage the roots leading to further problems. Damaged roots lead prevent your orchid getting water and nutrients which in turn may lead you to watering your orchid more often making the problem worse.
A handy and convenient way to test the moisture level in your potting media is by inserting a wooden pencil two to three inches into the mix, gently so as not to damage any roots. If the mix is still damp it should show up pretty clearly. Other alternatives include wooden stakes for plant labels or the wooden chopsticks you can get from your local takeaway.
The type of pot you use can also have an impact. Clear plastic pots are fairly common and allow you a good view of your plants roots and potting mix, helping you spot potential problems while keeping everything tightly packed but may not allow for much air flow. Ceramic pots can retain a little moisture and often have quite decorative designs with large gaps in which are great for air flow around your roots. However if the inside is glazed watch out for water collecting in the bottom.
Avoid Over-Watering
If you're having problems and your orchid is still not thriving as you feel it should then more often than not over-watering is the problem, especially if you're new to growing orchids. I was as guilty as the next person of "panic watering" when my plants started looking a little under the weather. Remain calm and think it through before you rush for the spray or watering can. Have you taken all the above factors into consideration? Your orchid is well adapted to surviving long periods without water. It has specially "designed" roots which can store water quickly and distribute it to the rest of the plant over time. They will even take moisture in from the surrounding air (a good reason to give your orchids some humidity). Your orchid may also have pseudo-bulbs which allow it to store even more nutrients and moisture to sustain it through the frequent dry periods it may encounter in its natural habitat.
My final tip and the one I hope will try for yourself is to simply create a routine. Keep a record if you have to, but by sticking to a regular cycle of watering and checking your plant you will find it much easy to keep track of little changes and the effect they have on your orchid. If you don't then you risk what many of us have done too many times, overcompensating. Stick with it and in no time you'll have achieved a perfect balance between all these factors.
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