What are the latest watering methods for orchids?

For orchids, 80 percent dry and 20 percent moist is best. During the flowering period and the period when new leaf buds are emerging, water less. During the plum rain season, they should be moved back indoors or a shed should be built to shelter them from rain. In summer, water orchids in the early morning or evening, but not too much. In autumn, the amount of watering can be appropriately increased. In dry seasons, spray every evening to increase air humidity. Now let us take a look at orchid watering methods together!

When to water orchids

1. Judge according to the condition of the orchid leaves and the dry or wet condition of the orchid pot surface. If the orchid leaves show mild dehydration, and the potting medium on the surface of the orchid pot has dried completely, and after digging about 5 cm into the surface medium it is still dry, this indicates that the medium is already insufficient in moisture and should be watered.

2. Carefully insert a bamboo stick into an appropriate position in the orchid pot, pull it out after about one hour, and judge how much water is contained in the orchid pot medium according to the degree of moisture on the bamboo stick.

3. Pick up a pot of orchids, hold it near your ear, and lightly tap the edge of the orchid pot with your hand. If the sound is dull, it indicates that the medium still contains a lot of water. If the sound is crisp, it indicates that it is time to water. However, this method requires a certain amount of experience, and it is not easy for most people to master.

Key points for watering orchids

1. Water as appropriate according to seasonal changes and the specific growth condition of the orchids. In spring, summer, and autumn, when orchids are in a period of vigorous growth, they should be watered frequently and thoroughly. Never give half-watering. During the high-temperature period of midsummer, they should also be watered frequently, heavily, and thoroughly. Never give half-watering, so as to help eliminate stale air in the pot. From late autumn to early spring, when the temperature is low and the plants grow slowly, they should be watered less. In the cold winter season, the plants basically stop growing, so they should be watered less or not at all, but the potting soil must be kept moist; otherwise, it will affect the smooth progress of the plant's metabolism, delay the time for young buds to emerge, and the young buds will be weak.

2. Watering should be based on whether the orchid pot is large or small and whether there are many or few plants. If the pot is large and there are many plants, then water frequently, heavily, and thoroughly. Never give half-watering. If the pot is small and there are few plants, then water frequently, lightly, and thoroughly. Never give half-watering.

3. According to the orchid pot medium: coarse and hard media have good air permeability and water filtration, but very poor water retention and fertilizer retention, so water frequently, heavily, and thoroughly. Never give half-watering, and also fertilize frequently. Hard and soft mixed media have relatively poorer air permeability and water filtration, but relatively better water retention and fertilizer retention, so the intervals between watering and fertilizing should be appropriately extended. Soft media have relatively even poorer air permeability and water filtration, but better water retention and fertilizer retention, so the intervals between watering and fertilizing should be extended even more appropriately.

Orchid watering methods

1. Pouring: “pouring” means using a watering can to pour water along the edge of the pot. The advantage of this method is that water will not be poured into the leaf center. The disadvantage is that the watering speed is slow, and it is difficult to water thoroughly. It must be poured repeatedly many times to achieve a thorough watering effect.

2. Sprinkling: “sprinkling” means using a spray bottle or showerhead to sprinkle water, wetting the entire orchid-growing environment, letting water seep from the soil surface to the orchid roots and moistening the orchid pot. The advantage of this method is that the water can thoroughly wet the entire orchid pot. The disadvantage is that water easily splashes into the leaf center, so it must be used carefully; otherwise, it will cause rot in the center.

3. Soaking: “soaking” means immersing three-quarters of the orchid pot together with the medium into water. The advantage is that the water can soak through. The disadvantage is that it easily spreads bacteria and is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Expert orchid growers often use these three methods in combination, with very ideal results.

4. Misting: “misting” means using a sprayer to spray out fine mist, directly scattering it on the orchid leaves, allowing the orchid leaves to absorb it into the plant through the stomata.

5. Humidifying: “humidifying” means increasing air humidity so that the orchid leaves can absorb it. There are also several methods of humidifying.

① Use a humidifier to create fine mist and increase the humidity of the space.

② Increase the water surface area by placing more water basins under the orchid rack, relying on water evaporation to increase the humidity of the space.

③ Artificially simulate rainfall, splashing up water mist to increase air humidity. In addition, some also use an oxygen pump placed in a water basin to help volatilize water vapor, and so on.