Watering potted orchids has its finer points; mastering the right method is key

Watering potted orchids definitely has its finer points. Many orchid growers come to ask me how often orchids should be watered. This question is truly hard to grasp, especially for beginners. As the old saying goes: understanding orchid growing is easy, but watering takes three years of skill. The watering interval varies depending on what potting medium you use for your orchids, the season, the weather, the environment, and the orchid variety.

As for how often to water, it is best to water according to how dry or moist the potting medium is. Sometimes it is very hard to judge, because the surface of the potting medium may be dry while the inside is still wet.

You can use tools such as disposable chopsticks or plastic tubes and insert them into the potting medium. However, the depth differs: a wooden chopstick can be inserted 10 to 12 cm into the potting medium, while a plastic tube needs to be buried 8-10cm. After five minutes, take them out and see whether there is moisture, and use that to judge whether watering is needed. You can also look at the surface soil.

Generally, after the surface soil turns white, it is best to wait 1-3 days before watering. Based on personal experience, generally during the highest temperatures in summer, water once a day; but in rainy weather, reduce the frequency of watering and you can wait until after the rainy days to water; in dry weather with excessively high temperatures, keep ventilation smooth, water once a day, and do it in the evening.

In spring and autumn, generally water once every three to seven days. In winter, orchids enter their dormant period, so water once every ten to fifteen days. Remember that when watering, you must water slowly and water thoroughly, and do not pour water onto the orchid's crown.