How Often Should You Water an Orchid? Learn to Judge the Right Time to Water

When it comes to care, how often you water is most closely related to the season and climate. In spring and autumn, about once a week; in summer, increase it appropriately to roughly once every three or four days; in winter, restrict water to about once every half month. But this is not absolutely fixed, and it still has to be decided according to the specific situation. Before watering, you can insert a toothpick or a plastic tube into the potting soil to test it, and water only if there is no moisture. You can also use the pot-lifting method, but only those with plenty of experience can measure it more accurately with this method.

1. How often

Its growth has extremely strict requirements for water; you cannot water too frequently, and the potting soil must not be too dry either. Exactly how often to water is most closely related to the season and climate. In spring and autumn it grows relatively fast and must not lack water, so water once a week. In summer the temperature is high and water evaporates quickly, so increase the frequency appropriately to roughly once every three or four days, but summer has a lot of rain, so on rainy days reduce the frequency appropriately. In winter, restrict water; if it is not dry, there is no need to water, about once every half month. Note that these frequencies are not absolutely fixed, and must still be changed according to the actual situation.

2. How to judge

1. Insert a toothpick: insert a toothpick into the surface of the potting soil, about four or five cm deep, wait five minutes and then take it out; if there is no moisture, it means it has already dried out and needs watering.

2. Insert a plastic tube: prepare a slightly thicker plastic tube, poke a few small holes in the lower part, cut it into a slanted surface, and bury it in the soil about eight to ten cm deep. Then insert a cotton swab into the other end, wait five minutes and then check; if the cotton swab has no moisture, it means it is time to water.

3. Lift the pot: only those with plenty of experience can use this method more skillfully. Directly lift the flower pot with both hands and weigh it; if it feels much lighter than usual, it proves the soil is almost dry and it is time to water.