Why are cultivated orchids afraid of rain, while wild orchids are not?

Essentially speaking, there is a difference between cultivated and wild ones. First of all, once they enter the home and are grown by us, they are no longer wild flowers and plants. With care and attention, and with certain expectations placed on the essence of the plant, they are naturally more precious than wild ones. Never mind whether they themselves are actually afraid or not; as their owner, you are already afraid on their behalf. Speaking of this, I can't help but recall a saying that proves it well: there is a kind of cold that is "mom thinks you're cold." In this respect, we also play the role of that mom. As for wild ones, no one worries about whether they are afraid. The law of nature is that the strong survive and the weak are eliminated. It's not that there are none that die off because they grow thin and weak, it's just that no one cares. This is an emotional way of putting it. However, the real situation is that cultivated and wild ones really are different. Let's take a look below.

1. Different environments. For wild orchids, they grow on the vast land and have free space to grow, broad soil. Although they cannot run around looking for a place suitable for their growth, in those especially unsuitable environments, they simply cannot sprout and survive. Having already gone through a round of cruel elimination, the environments where they can grow can all be considered suitable environments. In the later growth process, the plant itself has its own regulatory functions. For example, if the weather is dry, its roots will go deeper to seek water. When fertile nutrients are insufficient, the root system can also grow toward more fertile directions. Unless conditions are especially harsh, it can meet its own needs through these adjustments. Cultivated ones cannot do this. The root system is confined within the flower pot, the basic environment is not much different, the regulatory function is also limited, and its own resistance declines because the root system is limited. This is the main reason why cultivated plants are not as drought-tolerant and barren-tolerant as wild plants.

2. Different inclusiveness. This is still because of limited growth. Imagine the size of a cultivated potted plant's flower pot; how can it be mentioned in the same breath as the vast land? Within a limited small flower pot, water storage is limited. Too much easily causes water accumulation, too little easily causes drought. The vast land is different. Take rain as an example. From the land's perspective, even if it waters the plants, the chance of water accumulation is especially small. Water can seep deep into the ground, and when the plant needs it, it can obtain and absorb it through the extension of its root system. Actually, the root system inside the pot is the same, but unfortunately it cannot break through the barrier of the pot to reach the vast land. Relatively speaking, wild orchids treat the vast land as their mother, have strong inclusiveness, and are not prone to water accumulation. Naturally, getting rained on a bit more is no problem. Cultivated orchids treat the pot as their home, and too much rain will cause water accumulation, easily leading to root rot.

3. Different places of growth. This is also related to the environment, but it refers to the care environment. Wild orchids all grow among lofty mountains and ridges, surrounded by trees, with good natural conditions and high air quality, and the rainwater that falls is pollution-free. Cultivated ones are different. Many friends are in bustling downtowns, or surrounded by factories and mines. Even if pure dark clouds float overhead, the rainwater that falls to the ground has already been polluted while drifting in the sky, and may have become the legendary acid rain. Rainwater like this falling on orchids, compared with the pure rainwater in the wild, is naturally harmful.

In summary, actually speaking, orchids are not afraid of rain. As long as the rainwater is not polluted, and care is taken not to cause water accumulation, getting some rain can even make them grow more vigorously. The so-called fear of rain is actually just fear of polluted rain; they are not afraid of getting wet.