Water management methods for orchids during periods of high temperature and high humidity

The annual plum rain season of high temperature and high humidity in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is approaching (in places where the plum rain is not pronounced, such as the Sichuan and Chongqing areas, as temperatures rise, short periods of high temperature and high humidity do exist, and orchid growers in those areas also tend to overlook this issue; this article focuses specifically on water management during periods of high temperature and high humidity). During this period, orchid growers areorchidsvery confused about water management, and new growers in particular are at a complete loss. Is it better to withhold water or to increase the frequency of watering? Opinions truly vary, each side giving its own reasoning, yet few realize that every grower'scultivationenvironment is different, so water management differs too, which is why there is no unified answer on whether to water more or less. Some growers say that high temperature and high humidity is the source that triggers a hundred diseases, so they emphasize high ventilation and forcibly withholding water, creating a small environment of low temperature and high humidity. This in turn suppresses theorchid'snatural rapid growth period, thereby extending theorchid'srecovery period, and can even cause damage to new shoots. This is something no orchid grower wants to see. How can one control this balance well at this critical time, so that orchids grow quickly yet do not get sick or get sick less? This is one of the headache problems every orchid grower must face and urgently needs to solve. Below, the author discusses three water management practices for this period, hoping they will be useful to growers troubled during high temperature and high humidity. I. Watering methods Right now, on clear days the outdoor temperature hovers around 30°C, and outdoor air humidity is around 50%-60%. Indoors it is around 28°C, and the air humidity in the orchid room is around 70%. Such temperature and humidity are optimal for rapid orchid growth, and are also the author's greatest comfort. In such weather, water evaporates very quickly, and with the help of wind it dries even faster, almost as if being roasted. So the author takes corresponding measures for water management: 10 cm small clay pots are soaked once every three days, and in the morning and evening a spray bottle is used to spray the pot surface where the medium has turned white and dried, once each time, keeping the pot surface moist for longer; when necessary, a spray is also given at noon. 15 cm medium clay pots are soaked once every five days, and the spraying of the pot surface medium is the same. 20 cm clay pots are soaked once every seven days, and spraying to moisten the medium is carried out the same way. 10 cm small plastic pots are soaked on the same schedule as the large pots, and spraying the pot surface medium is treated the same as well. The difference is that the author never sprays water on the orchid plants themselves, to prevent water entering the bud core and causing rot that could induce other diseases. In fact, when air humidity reaches the required level, the plants simply do not need spraying, so the orchids grow well with few scorched tips. II. Water control methods During this period, water control for orchids must also be measured with judgment, determined by the orchid variety, the pot, and the number of plants. The author arranges it as follows:Cymbidium goeringii, Chun Jian (Cymbidium tortisepalum),Four SeasonsOrchidare given water the same way, with large, medium, and small clay pots classified separately for watering. Among the cymbidiums, medium pots are watered together with large pots. Small plastic pots are watered together with large pots. Purple clay pots and sweating pots are watered together with large pots. During long rainy periods, appropriate spraying of the pot surface is used to extend the watering interval; if water must be given, it is still given on schedule, and at such times the supplemental light of orchid grow lights and the gentle breeze of a small fan are indispensable. III. Balanced water use In wateringorchids, ensure balance and moderation, never arbitrarily giving more or less to any pot. In soaking every few days, ensure balance and even penetration, treating large, medium, and small pots alike. Tap water stored for two or three days is mixed with fresh tap water when used, striving for a balance of water hardness and softness, so that the water's activity and oxygen molecules are more abundant. By adjusting the spraying of the pot surface medium, a balance of dryness and moisture is achieved across the upper, middle, and lower layers of medium. When spraying the pot surface medium, ensure the balance is thorough, so that new root growth is not hindered in elongation by local short-term over-drying. If watering during theorchid'sgrowth process can ensure balance, the orchids will grow more robustly. Prerequisites: The orchidcultivationenvironment in this article is a south-facing orchid room, where ventilation is controlled at any time by how much the windows are opened, and water management is not limited by the weather, because the orchid room is equipped with orchid grow lights. Water is given whenever the orchids need it, never waiting until the next day. The orchid room's cleanliness is also first-rate, and now it is possible to provide light, increase humidity, and ventilate in a timely manner when watering. During high temperature and high humidity, air conditioning is never used; this is the author's principle. This article is only for reference; every orchid grower must adapt to local conditions, and might as well practice and compare more, since after all this still requires rational understanding, starting from one's own environment to work out the details. Boost domestic demand, manage water well, and let your orchids grow better in high temperature and high humidity! Wishing you success! (Guoxiangju)