How to water orchids? A detailed guide to the correct watering methods for growing orchids
Watering is fundamental to growing orchids well, but speaking about watering with complete accuracy is not easy. Here we can only discuss the framework of watering; the specific amount, timing and degree still require orchid growers to grasp and understand in light of their own actual conditions.
1. Seasons:
Seasons are divided into spring, summer, autumn and winter according to temperature changes. In actual watering work, you should choose the appropriate watering time and amount according to the temperature change characteristics of each season. The temperature in spring is cold at night and warm during the day, so watering should be done at 10 a.m. The moist soil, together with the gradually rising temperature, is extremely beneficial to the sprouting and growth of orchid plants, and with a small amount of ventilation it will not cause any adverse effect on the growth of orchid plants. The temperature in summer is hot during the day and cool at night. According to this characteristic, orchid plants should be watered at 8 p.m. in summer. If you still water in the morning, there are the following drawbacks: the overly wet potting medium will produce a large amount of foul air under the effect of high temperature, easily creating a greenhouse effect that can easily burn the orchid roots; under high temperature the orchid plants stop growing, and the orchid roots need water that is moist but not stagnant; under high temperature, overly wet medium is not conducive to air penetration and breathing of the orchid roots, and easily causes waterlogging. But it absolutely must not be dry, otherwise it easily causes the orchid plants to dehydrate and form hollow roots. Autumn temperatures are similar to summer, so the watering time can be the same as in summer. The temperature in winter is cold at night and cool during the day, so the best watering time should be chosen at noon. In short, the watering time for orchid plants should be chosen as much as possible to suit the temperature for their growth.
2. How to water
The correct watering method is to water slowly. So-called slow means gradual; the degree of slowness is based on not disturbing the potting medium on the surface of the orchid pot. For fine medium or mixed medium, gentle and slow watering is very important. If watering is too rapid, it easily disturbs the medium: the lighter or larger particles float on top, while the finer and heavier ones remain below, easily causing the base medium to form layers, creating a new unreasonable base medium structure, thereby affecting the air permeability of the medium and preventing the orchid plants from growing normally. The correct watering method is to divide watering into three times to water thoroughly. Misting can directly improve air humidity and lower temperature; misting should be fine and in the form of mist. In summer, do not mist when the orchid plants are exposed to light, so as to avoid the orchid plants generating heat under the effect of sunlight after misting and being burned.
3. Water temperature
The water temperature of each watering should be close to the temperature of the potting medium in the orchid pot. Too great a temperature difference easily burns the orchid plants, just as humans easily get sick when the ambient temperature changes greatly. Therefore, orchid water is best stored in the same place as the potted orchids, where the temperature changes little, making it very convenient to use. The principle for controlling water temperature is: in winter and spring, prefer higher rather than lower; in autumn and summer, prefer lower rather than higher; temperature difference less than 5 degrees; the orchid plants will be safe and sound.
4. Water amount
The amount of water per watering and the interval between waterings vary greatly, and they are affected by many external environmental factors, so it is very difficult to state them accurately. Here we discuss a rough framework in combination with potting medium. First, you must carefully choose a potting medium suitable for your own environment. Once the medium is selected, it must never be changed at will. It is the first factor affecting water evaporation. Using one kind of medium regularly allows you to accurately grasp its performance, such as how many days to water, how much water to give, and so on, to accurately understand the moisture condition and water at the right time and in the right amount with confidence. In this way, over a long time, when watering you will not need to tap the pot and check the soil; you can freely pick up the kettle and water, and water just right. Only then can your watering be called knowing how to water.
The amount of water for watering should follow these measures:
1. In spring, watering should be moderate in amount; it is not suitable to water heavily for a long time, otherwise it is not conducive to retaining fertilizer. In spring, orchid plants need a certain amount of fertility, and overly dilute medium is not conducive to the sprouting of orchid plants.
2. In summer, watering should be heavy and thorough. In summer, orchid plants grow slowly and need less fertilizer. Excess remaining fertility under the effect of high temperature easily damages the orchid plants. Using heavy watering to carry away the remaining fertility in the orchid pot is an important measure to ensure that orchid plants pass the summer safely. The water amount in autumn is the same as in spring. In winter, orchid plants enter dormancy and need less water, so watering should be to the degree of moisture.
5. Simulating nature
Orchids growing in nature mostly have luxuriant branches and leaves and vigorous growth. However, rainfall in nature is not controlled by humans, and continuous rainy days and long droughts without rain often occur. Yet orchid plants in nature can remain safe and sound. Orchids growing in nature fully demonstrate that orchid plants have strong adaptability. In our practice of growing orchids, we can simulate natural rainfall to enhance the adaptability of orchid plants; maintaining a certain "wildness" in orchid plants is very beneficial. The author's approach is "treat sunny as rainy" and "treat rainy as dry." That is, when it is sunny and dry, water heavily; when it is rainy, do not water and let it dry, and intentionally extend the dry pot time. It should be explained that the drying cannot be extended without limit, otherwise it will hinder the normal growth of orchid plants. Generally, coarse medium can be extended by 12-24 hours, and mixed medium can be extended by 24-36 hours. Make the medium "dry within wet" and "wet within dry"; such gradual cycling, with excellent base medium moisture, is beneficial to the growth of orchid plants. The number of times of intentionally extending drying cannot be too many; in spring, do it less.
In addition, let us talk about fertilizing. Fertilizing orchid plants is always related to water. Whether organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer or farmyard manure, all are diluted with water to reduce their concentration. In the author's orchid growing, deliberate fertilizing is only twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn. All other fertilizing is unintentional, that is, after diluting in proportion, dilute again 8-10 times. Its fertility is extremely dilute, and applying it together with ordinary watering is safe and reliable. Author: Song Mingyuan. I publish orchid knowledge and pictures every day, taking you to understand orchids in depth and teaching you to grow orchids easily. If you have any questions about orchids, you can ask me at any time or leave a message below. If my knowledge has helped you, I hope you can give me a like or forward it to help more people!