Do orchids kept outdoors in summer need a water tray?

Hot summer has already arrived, and growing orchids is very prone to problems. For orchids kept outdoors, because summer is hot, stuffy and poorly ventilated, and the air humidity is too dry, care operations become rather difficult. When we grow orchids in summer, we must shade them properly, using a shade net to block 50% of the light, or place them under a tree to keep the potting soil moist. Be sure to guarantee good ventilation, and also increase the air humidity, so that the leaves grow well in summer and there is no leaf drying or even leaf spots.

Of the four points just mentioned, the other three are relatively easy to control; only increasing humidity is hard to control. Some flower lovers choose to get a water tray and then squat the whole flower pot inside it to increase air humidity, because in summer's high temperatures water evaporates quickly, and the humidity that evaporates up onto the orchid leaves can effectively raise the humidity of the orchid's growing environment. This method is feasible, but when doing it you must pay attention to a few things.

First, we can use a basin with water in it and squat the whole orchid pot inside it, but remember that the water level must not go above the bottom of the orchid pot. Otherwise, if water stays at the bottom of the orchid pot in the hot, stuffy conditions, the roots at the bottom of the orchid will be suffocated and rot. We can choose to plant orchids in tall-footed pots, and when adding water do not let the water surface touch the bottom hole of the pot. This way there is a certain amount of air permeability, and the water in the basin can increase air humidity. If you have not planted it in a tall-footed pot, you can put a brick under the pot and then add water to the basin; just do not let the water level go above the brick. In this way, through the water tray method, we can effectively increase air humidity for orchids, letting your orchids grow well in a high-humidity environment, with no problems even in hot, stuffy conditions, and no leaf drying or even leaf spots.

Another method is that we can splash water on the ground every day to increase air humidity; while increasing air humidity it can also play a cooling role. This is also a feasible method. In summer's hot, stuffy and poorly ventilated conditions, try not to spray water on the leaves; spraying water on the leaves easily causes spot after spot on the leaves, and even leaf rot. In summer the temperature is high, and if the water used is low in temperature, it will cause spots on the leaves; if spraying water is not controlled well, it can also easily cause leaf rot and even root rot, so to increase humidity, the first two methods are enough. If you are growing them indoors, you can also use the water tray method, but you must guarantee good ventilation; you can open windows for ventilation, or add an electric fan. Frequently blowing it with a fan for a few hours every day can also increase air movement and ensure no root rot occurs.

This is a little trick for increasing air humidity when growing orchids in summer. Once you learn it, you can grow your orchids well. Xiao Qi's orchids are all grown under flower stands; the flower stands can play a shading role, and every pot is propped up with bricks, then the ground is all splashed wet, so there is humidity all the time and good ventilation is guaranteed. This way they can keep growing, and several of Xiao Qi's orchids have even grown flower buds and bloomed. Growing orchids in summer is not difficult; most orchids in summer are preparing flower buds, and in autumn they will grow flower buds, which will directly emerge from the soil. So in summer you can fertilize them: sprinkle some fertilizer with a high phosphorus and potassium content on the surface of the potting soil, and regularly water with a little monopotassium phosphate once a month. This can effectively help them differentiate flower buds and let the flower buds quickly emerge from the soil. Then guarantee good ventilation, and the orchids you grow will not have any problems at all in summer. The potting soil should maintain a certain humidity but not be too wet, and even beginners can grow orchids well.