A Detailed Guide to Watering Phalaenopsis Orchids: Methods and Precautions

The key to growing Phalaenopsis orchids lies in the supply of water. The environment suitable for Phalaenopsis roots must have the following:

Warmth (15-30°C); moderate moisture with good ventilation; a weakly acidic pH; light fertilizer; and sunlight (some leafless or deciduous Phalaenopsis orchids carry out photosynthesis through their roots).

In the wild, Phalaenopsis orchids cling to tree trunks or rocks with their roots, with leaves and flower stems hanging down, growing upside down. Abundant rainwater keeps the roots from feeling too dry; in fact, Phalaenopsis roots are not afraid of moisture. So why do root rot problems often occur when we grow Phalaenopsis orchids in pots? It turns out that what they fear is not moisture, but poor air circulation, a stuffy environment inside the pot, and a drop in oxygen levels. In this stuffy environment, orchid roots and the fungi that live symbiotically with them rot due to respiratory failure and the accumulation of waste. The best way to solve this problem is to control the humidity inside the pot, so that the orchid roots and fungi can both breathe during periodic wet-dry cycles and have enough water to drink.

Phalaenopsis orchids begin to sprout at 15°C and grow slowly; 20-30°C is when they grow fastest; above 30°C, they enter a semi-dormant state due to high temperatures. When growing fastest, they need more water, so be sure to supply plenty.

Watering flowers is a skill that is hard to put into words, because there are too many influencing factors, but to solve the problem you need to grasp the key. The root of watering technique lies in this: to what degree should the substrate in the pot dry out before watering is needed? For Phalaenopsis orchids, giving a thorough watering when the substrate is nearly completely dry is most appropriate. How do you judge a nearly completely dry state? By touching the sphagnum moss on the surface of the pot with your hand; the firmness of the sphagnum moss lets you judge the water content.

After each thorough watering, the sphagnum moss goes through the following changes in sequence.

Completely wet: dark in color, water comes out easily with a squeeze of the hand, indicating high water content;

Half dry: darker in color, only a little water comes out when squeezed hard, indicating the water content is just right; at this time the orchid roots absorb the most water;

Nearly completely dry: lighter in color, the sphagnum moss is soft but no water can be squeezed out, indicating low water content and that watering will soon be needed;

Completely dry: whitish in color, dry and brittle, indicating the water content is too low and watering is needed as soon as possible;

Once you grasp this water cycle, you have grasped the key to growing Phalaenopsis orchids. Combined with control of other environmental conditions, I believe you will surely be able to make your Phalaenopsis orchids bloom beautiful flowers!