What is "huishui" (return watering) for orchids? A complete guide to the causes

In professional books on growing orchids, one often seeshuishuimentioned, and beginner orchid growers are especially puzzled: what is huishui? What does huishui do?

Huishui for orchids refers to giving one deep, thorough watering after spraying pesticides or applying fertilizer. Its purpose is to wash away the pesticide solution remaining on the leaves, and also to dilute toxic gases such as ammonia that may accumulate in the pot after fertilizing. So, do orchids need huishui every time they are sprayed or fertilized?

Haoshejun's orchids are never given huishui after spraying pesticides. The pesticide solution remaining on the orchid leaves will not cause pesticide damage; on the contrary, the dew the next day can dissolve part of the unabsorbed pesticide and foliar fertilizer, helping the orchids absorb them again.

If the fertilizer applied is a liquid fertilizer, especially when the weather is hot, it is necessary to give huishui to dilute it. When fertilizer decomposes, it may produce ammonia, which accumulates in the potting soil and is corrosive to orchid roots. But solid slow-release fertilizer does not require this; just let the orchid potting soil slowly dissolve it. To a certain extent, huishui will wash away fertilizer, which is also a kind of waste.

The questioner and fellow orchid growers can refer to this for guidance. If you have any other questions, you are welcome to leave a comment in the comment section.