How can orchids safely get through summer without overheating? It all comes down to this

The beginning of summer has passed, and summer has quietly arrived as temperatures rise day by day. How to help orchids safely get through summer has become the most urgent question at hand. If we want our orchids to safely get through summer, we now need to do two things for our precious orchids: replenish water and protect them from the sun.

Let's take a look at exactly how to do it!

1. Replenishing water

Summer is hot and dry, and orchid potting soil dries out easily, so water needs to be replenished in time. Sometimes the soil at the bottom of the pot, near the orchid roots, is already dry, but the soil on the surface of the potting soil, near the pseudobulbs, is still very moist. Some orchid growers do not notice this and keep not watering the orchids. Over time, this kind of "half-way watering" can easily cause orchid roots to become hollow, which is extremely harmful to orchid growth.

To prevent hollow roots, many orchid growers choose the soaking-pot watering method. However, soaking pots in hot summer weather will cause the potting soil to become hot and humid, which very easily triggers rot in the plants. It is strongly not recommended to soak orchid pots in summer; soaking pots is best done in spring and autumn. When soaking the pot, you can add some orchid-specific organic nutrient solution to the water so that the orchid roots can also fully absorb nutrients.

So what can be done to keep orchid potting soil moist in summer without making it excessively wet? We can find two bricks or flat stones, prop up the left and right sides of the orchid pot, and place a water-filled tray in the empty space in the middle. By using water vapor evaporation, the soil at the bottom of the orchid pot is kept moist, effectively reducing the chance of "half-way watering" occurring. In addition, when watering orchids in summer, it is best to do so in the evening. At this time, the temperature is lower than during the day, plant transpiration is weakened, and water is less likely to evaporate.

2. Sun protection

The fierce summer sun can make us dizzy and cause heatstroke, let alone delicate orchids. Sunburned orchids will show symptoms such as wilting and yellowing leaves. If timely action is not taken for the injured orchids, the orchids may very well be killed by the sun.

If orchids are being cared for indoors, in summer they can be moved to a place 1-2 m away from the balcony, and curtains can be drawn at noon to prevent strong sunlight from hitting them. The curtains can be opened around 3 p.m.

If orchids are grown outdoors, then you need to buy shade netting for the orchids. Generally, you should choose shade netting with a shading rate of 55%-60% for orchids. In addition to reducing direct light, shade netting also has a cooling effect on orchids to a certain extent, reducing water evaporation, and letting the precious orchids safely get through summer in a cool and comfortable environment.

Putting a water-filled tray under the orchid pot + shade netting is the best setup for orchids to get through summer. While the hot summer has not yet arrived, hurry and get all the equipment ready for your orchids so they can safely get through summer!