How to water orchids? Do this when high temperatures arrive

Water is the source of life for orchids and the foundation of orchid growth. Watering orchids is the most important part of orchid cultivation and management. The ancients said: "Understanding orchid growing takes one insight, but mastering watering takes three years of skill." This saying is quite reasonable; it shows that watering orchids is a profound art that requires long-term practice and exploration to master. The accumulated practical experience of predecessors and the explorations of modern science have provided us with a shortcut. Their understanding of the issue of watering orchids is well worth learning, pondering, and studying.

1. Water is the source of life for orchids

First, water is an important component of orchid protoplasm. The water content of orchid protoplasm is generally above 80%. If the water content decreases, life activities are affected. If the protoplasm loses too much water, it will cause the destruction of the protoplasm and lead to the death of the plant.

Second, water is a raw material in the metabolic processes of orchid plants. The assimilation and dissimilation processes within orchid plants all require the participation of water molecules, such as photosynthesis, respiration, hydrolysis reactions, and so on.

Third, water is the medium for the metabolic processes of orchid plants. The nutrient elements in the growing medium can only be absorbed by the orchid root system after dissolving in water, and various metabolic products must also be transported with water to all parts of the orchid plant.

Fourth, water enables orchid plants to maintain their inherent form. Only when the cells of orchid plants contain a large amount of water can the cells expand and the plant stand upright, facilitating light reception and gas exchange. Once an orchid plant loses water, it will wilt.

Fifth, water can regulate the body temperature of orchid plants. Water has a high heat of vaporization and specific heat, as well as relatively high thermal conductivity, which helps orchid plants maintain body temperature and dissipate heat. One of the important functions of watering orchids is to regulate the body temperature of orchid plants.

In short, water is the source of life for orchids and the foundation of orchid growth. Properly meeting the water needs of orchid plants is the most important condition for orchid growth.

2. Two pathways for supplying water to orchid plants

There are two pathways for supplying the water needed by orchid plants: one is absorption of water from the growing medium by the roots, which is transported throughout the plant through vascular tissues; the other is absorption of water from the air by orchid leaves to meet the needs of the orchid plant's metabolism. Understanding this principle means knowing how to supply water to orchid plants.

3. Methods of watering orchid plants

The methods of supplying water to the roots of orchid plants are: pouring, sprinkling (drenching), and soaking. "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 get into the leaf center; the disadvantage is that watering is slow and it is difficult to water thoroughly, requiring repeated pouring many times to achieve a thorough watering effect. "Sprinkling" means using a spray bottle or shower head to sprinkle water, wetting the entire orchid-growing environment and letting water seep from the soil surface to the orchid roots, moistening the orchid pot. The advantage of this method is that 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 the leaf center will rot. "Soaking" means immersing three-quarters of the orchid pot together with the growing medium into water. The advantage is that water can soak through thoroughly; the disadvantages are 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.

The methods of supplying water to orchid leaves are: misting and humidifying. "Misting" means using a sprayer to spray out fine mist that directly settles on orchid leaves, allowing the leaves to absorb it into the plant through stomata. "Humidifying" means increasing air humidity so that orchid leaves can absorb it. There are also several humidifying methods: first, using a humidifier to create mist and increase spatial humidity; second, increasing water surface area by placing more water basins under the orchid stand and relying on water evaporation to increase spatial humidity; third, artificially simulating rainfall to splash up water mist and increase air humidity; in addition, some also use an oxygen pump in a water basin to help volatilize water vapor, and so on.

4. Water quality for watering orchid plants

Wild orchids grow relying on rainwater, so water used for cultivating orchids should be natural and pure, preferably clean and slightly acidic (pH value around 5.5). Generally, rainwater is best, river water is excellent, tap water is inferior, and well water must not be used. "Rainwater" contains many and comprehensive fertilizer components, among which spring rain is especially good, thunderstorm rain is relatively good, autumn rain is next, artificial rain should be avoided, and acid rain is harmful. "River water and pond water" are formed by collected rainwater and are beneficial to orchids, but river water polluted by industrial wastewater must not be used; "tap water," if taken from underground, must not be used. If taken from a river, its essence is still rainwater, but after processing by the water plant, disinfecting and clarifying agents are present, which are harmful to orchids and must not be applied directly. There are two solutions: first, fill several vats with tap water, expose them outdoors to the sun, store them for many days, and rotate their use; second, put in a small amount of fruit peel such as orange peel or apple peel, store for one or two days, and then use it, which has a practical effect on improving the water quality of tap water. "Well water" belongs to groundwater. First, its temperature is low, and sudden irrigation is unfavorable to orchid growth; second, it is somewhat alkaline, and well water contains relatively large amounts of calcium and magnesium salts. Frequent irrigation with it is harmful to orchids.

5. Timing for watering orchid plants

Orchids "love moisture but fear wetness, love dryness but fear aridity." This saying of the ancients is scientifically sound. "Wet," "moist," "dry," and "arid" differ in degree. Excessive moisture is wetness; "wetness" means too much water, which will suffocate orchid roots, causing them to rot and die. Excessive dryness is aridity; "aridity" means too little water, which will cause orchid plants to wilt, suffer stunted growth, and even dry up and die. "Dry" and "moist" mean moderate water content, which is the state that orchids love for growth. To understand the key issues of "dry" and "moist," one must carefully observe and experience in practice and gradually accumulate experience to truly master it. There is no quick method; it requires no less than "three years of skill." Generally speaking, when the growing medium on the pot surface is dry but not arid, and the hole at the bottom of the pot is moist but not wet, this is the best time to water orchid plants. There is no need to wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering, otherwise it will have an adverse effect on the growth and development of orchids.