How do you tell when an orchid needs watering? 4 methods you can still learn now

How to tell when an orchid needs watering, let's take a look together! Orchids are noble plants, different from clivia and even more different from plants like roses. Some say that people who grow orchids are people of refined taste, and a good orchid paired with a high-end flower pot costs a lot. But many people run into problems when growing orchids, especially when it comes to judging how to water them.

Judging when to water an orchid: only those who know how to water can grow orchids better. So should we water however we please, or do we need to follow a certain science? Let's take a look together!

The chopstick insertion method

This method has been around for a long time, and it is very practical. It is very practical for larger flower pots; I even used it before to judge when a money tree was short of water. The steps are as follows:

(1) Insert a disposable chopstick into the orchid's soil, for about 10 seconds

(2) Then pull it out

(3) Use a disposable paper towel to wipe the chopstick

(4) If the paper towel is wet, it means there is still water; if it is very dry, it means the plant is short of water.

If it is short of water, you need to replenish water for the orchid. It is best to mist both the leaves and the soil once, as the effect will be better. Each watering needs to soak through, and then wait until the next watering; do not give it just a little every day.

The pot-tapping method

This method is more suitable for large pot sets; gallon pots and Qingshan flower pots are not really suitable. This method uses the principle of sound: a flower pot short of water gives off a rather loud sound, while a flower pot with water gives off a rather "muffled" sound.

The pot-lifting method

This is more suitable for smaller flower pots; those flower pots weighing dozens of jin are not suitable either. This method actually imitates what is done with pothos. I often lift the pothos pot, and when I find it is very light, I water it thoroughly once; a pot after watering is rather heavy. So orchids can also use this approach, and it works very well too.

When watering, we can add a little fertilizer for the orchid; the amount can be small but the nutrients should be rich. Using a little each time you water can maintain a continuous supply of nutrients, thus helping the orchid grow better.

Check the soil below 3cm

This is also very easy, but you need to use your hand to sense the moisture in the soil below 3cm. Although this method is a bit "dirty", it is the easiest to carry out; if you have not tried it, you can give it a try.

Alright, when watering orchids you also need to look at what kind of soil is used. Some soils retain water better, so watering may be less frequent; some poorer soils dry out faster. So watering orchids is not a "fixed procedure" but requires a certain amount of judgment. If we want orchids to grow well, we have to use the best soil.

Alright, these 4 methods for judging when to water orchids are for everyone; next time you will know what to do, and it is not too late yet! Do you have any other good methods for judging when to water orchids? You are welcome to leave me a message!