How to water orchids in summer? Mastering the correct method is key
Sanyun has read quite a few posts about whether to water in the evening or in the morning in summer. Some say morning, some say evening; each side holds its own view, and both make sense. To sum it up, you should not water in summer when the potting soil is too hot. So in the past, as far as I was concerned, there was no difference between watering in the morning and watering in the evening. Personal habit...
I have read quite a few posts about whether to water in the evening or in the morning in summer. Some say morning, some say evening; each side holds its own view, and both make sense. To sum it up, you should not water in summer when the potting soil is too hot.
So in the past, as far as I was concerned, there was no difference between watering in the morning and watering in the evening. Out of personal habit, I chose to water in the evening more often. These past few days the temperature in Beijing reached over 30 degrees; that is, one day it was 34 degrees during the day, and even by 12 at night the temperature was still around 30. Thinking the temperature was gradually dropping, I watered all the plants. The next morning I found that two pots of grass had rotted at the buds; the process was very fast, rotting overnight.
Some reflections:
1. Although it was 12 at night, the heat inside the pots had not fully dissipated, so as soon as I watered, the buds were "steamed." (The water I used had been left to stand, at the same temperature as indoors and outdoors.)
2. I often hear that plants drenched by heavy rain or flushed with a strong stream from a tap do not rot. It should be because the hot, stale air inside the pot is flushed out thoroughly, so they do not rot. This point is very important: flush multiple times!
3. Bud rot in summer is basically caused by the potting soil "steaming" them; it seems to have nothing to do with bacteria.
4. So for watering, it is still better to choose the morning (morning here means around 5 o'clock; if you have no time, still choose the evening!), when the temperature of the potting soil should have come down completely. Or consider using freshly drawn tap water in the morning and evening; on this point, some teachers say the temperature difference must not be too great.
5. Bud rot caused by spraying water on the leaves should also be because the surface of the potting medium is too hot, and the buds are steamed when they get wet. So try to choose cool weather for spraying, or spray some cool water?
Actually, being afraid of water getting into the buds is all nonsense. When I water, I just flush plenty of water into the buds to wash away the restless heat, and they almost never rot. Of course, grass that does not suit your environment must be handled with care no matter what; even if it never touches water, it will still rot if it is going to rot! In the high-temperature season, spray less water, and for watering try to choose the time of day when the temperature is low (the time when there is wind in the evening), flood the pots with plenty of water, and flush and pour several times so the growing medium is thoroughly watered!