Improper watering and humidity retention for orchids almost killed a pot of Cymbidium faberi for an orchid grower

Haoshe Nongfu has always told fellow orchid growers that orchids like moisture but fear waterlogging, so it is better to keep them dry than too wet. But everything has a limit, and going to extremes, whether dry or wet, is definitely no good.Today I want to share a true story with you. The main character is Mr. Zhang, an orchid grower friend of Haoshe Nongfu in Shaanxi

In the spring of last year, Mr. Zhang began learning to grow orchids, and everything proceeded step by step. The orchids grew very well. In summer, because Shaanxi's climate is relatively dry, he was afraid the orchids would lack water, so he started misting them. At the time he even asked me, and Haoshe Nongfu told him that misting orchid leaves to retain moisture is definitely beneficial.

Later, over a period of time, Mr. Zhang noticed that his orchids had not been watered for two weeks, yet the leaves were still very lively and green. He thought the potting medium was not short of water. It just so happened that at this time he had to go on a business trip for one month, so he told his wife that if she found the moss on the surface of the pot was no longer fresh or the leaves showed signs of drying, then she should water them. He had always firmly believed in the principle of "better dry than wet."

A few days after he returned home from his business trip, he found that the orchid leaves had begun to wither. He did not understand what was going on, so he called Haoshe Nongfu. After asking in detail about his entire process, Nongfu told him to knock the plant out of the pot and look at the roots. As a result, the roots had all dried up completely. What he did not understand was how the orchid leaves had stayed so oily green all along, and yet suddenly withered

The orchid grower in this case was misled by a false appearance. Orchids really do need their leaves misted, because orchids grow in the open on mountains, and due to the temperature difference, dew forms on the leaves at night, which is equivalent to adding humidity for them. But nowadays orchids grown in cities are mostly on balconies or half-balconies, and the temperature difference in cities is not large, so very little dew can form. Mist humidification is definitely correct. But misting cannot replace watering. Watering supplies the moisture the orchid roots need.

And the moss played the role of a false witness in this case,Moss can grow normally just from misting. Now let's talk about orchid leaves. If an orchid suffers drought, dehydration starts from the root tips first, then extends all the way upward. By the time it shows up as severe dehydration and withering of the leaves, the orchid plant has actually already suffered major damage to its vitality. Of course, if such orchids are discovered early, they can still be saved. At the end of last year, Haoshe Nongfu saved two pots of Cymbidium goeringii, and the cause was also drought in summer.

Friends, watering and misting for humidity retention are two different concepts. Do not be fooled by false appearances. You are welcome to join the discussion, and if anything is inadequate, please correct it.