Orchid Watering Methods and Precautions in Summer
How to water orchids in summer.
Watering orchids is a profound art that can only be mastered through long-term practice and exploration. The accumulated practical experience of those who came before and the explorations of modern science have provided us with a shortcut; their understanding of orchid watering is well worth learning from, pondering, and studying.
I. Water Is the Source of Life for Orchids
First, water is an important component of orchid protoplasm. The water content of orchid protoplasm is generally above 80%. If the water content decreases, life activities are affected. If the protoplasm loses too much water, it will be destroyed, leading to the death of the plant.
Second, water is a raw material in the metabolic processes of orchid plants. The assimilation and dissimilation processes within orchid plants all require the participation of water molecules, such as photosynthesis, respiration, and hydrolysis reactions.
Third, water is the medium for the metabolic processes of orchid plants. Nutrient elements in the growing medium can only be absorbed by orchid roots after dissolving in water, and various metabolic products must also be transported with water to all parts of the orchid plant.
Fourth, water enables orchid plants to maintain their inherent form. Only when orchid cells contain a large amount of water can the cells expand and the plant stand upright, facilitating light reception and gas exchange. Once an orchid plant loses water, it will wilt.
Fifth, water can regulate the body temperature of orchid plants. Water has a high heat of vaporization and specific heat, as well as high thermal conductivity, which helps orchid plants maintain body temperature and dissipate heat. One of the important functions of watering orchids is to regulate the body temperature of the orchid plant.
In summary, water is the source of life for orchids and the foundation of orchid growth. Properly meeting the water needs of orchid plants is the most important condition for orchid growth.
II. Two Pathways for Supplying Water to Orchid Plants
There are two pathways for supplying the water needed by orchid plants: one is absorption of water from the growing medium by the roots, transported through vascular tissue to the entire plant; the other is absorption of moisture from the air by orchid leaves to meet the metabolic needs of the plant. Understanding this principle means knowing how to supply water to orchid plants.
III. Methods of Watering Orchid Plants
The methods for supplying water to orchid roots are: pouring, sprinkling (showering), and soaking. "Pouring" means using a watering can to pour water along the edge of the pot. The advantage of this method is that water will not get into the leaf core; the disadvantage is that watering is slow and it is difficult to soak through, requiring repeated pouring to achieve thorough watering. "Sprinkling" means using a spray bottle or shower head to sprinkle water, wetting the entire orchid-growing environment, letting water seep from the soil surface to the orchid roots and moistening the orchid pot. The advantage of this method is that water can soak through the entire pot; the disadvantage is that water easily splashes into the leaf core, so it must be used carefully or the core will rot. "Soaking" means immersing three-quarters of the orchid pot along with the growing medium in water. The advantage is that water can soak through; the disadvantages are that it easily spreads bacteria and is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Expert orchid growers often combine these three methods, achieving very ideal results.
The methods for supplying water to orchid leaves are: spraying and humidifying. "Spraying" means using a sprayer to emit fine mist that falls directly onto orchid leaves, allowing the leaves to absorb it through their stomata. "Humidifying" means increasing air humidity for the leaves to absorb. There are also several humidifying methods: first, using a humidifier to create mist and increase spatial humidity; second, increasing water surface area by placing more water basins under the orchid shelf, relying on water evaporation to increase spatial humidity; third, artificially simulating rainfall to splash up water mist and increase air humidity; and there are also those who use an oxygen pump in a water basin to help volatilize water vapor, and so on.
IV. Water Quality for Watering Orchid Plants
Wild orchids grow relying on rainwater, so water used for cultivating orchids should be natural and pure, preferably clean and slightly acidic (pH value around 5.5). Generally, rainwater is best, river water is excellent, tap water is next, and well water should not be used. "Rainwater" contains many and comprehensive fertilizer components, among which spring rain is especially good, thunderstorm rain is relatively good, autumn rain is next, artificial rain should be avoided, and acid rain is harmful. "River water and pond water" are formed by collected rainwater and are beneficial to orchids, but river water polluted by industrial wastewater must not be used. "Tap water" must not be used if it comes from underground; if it comes from a river, its essence is still rainwater, but after processing by the water plant, there are disinfectant and clarifying agents present, which are harmful to orchids and cannot be applied directly. There are two solutions: first, fill several vats with tap water, expose them outdoors to the sun, store them for many days, and rotate their use; second, put in a small amount of fruit peels such as orange peel or apple peel, store for one or two days before use, which has a practical effect on improving the water quality of tap water. "Well water" belongs to groundwater; first, its temperature is low, and sudden irrigation is unfavorable for orchid growth; second, it is alkaline, and well water contains relatively more calcium and magnesium salts, so frequent irrigation is harmful to orchids.
V. Timing of Watering Orchid Plants
Orchids "prefer moisture but fear wetness, prefer dryness but fear aridity." This saying of the ancients is quite scientifically reasonable. "Wet," "moist," "dry," and "arid" differ in degree. Excessive moisture becomes wetness; "wet" means too much water, which will suffocate orchid roots, causing them to rot and die. Excessive dryness becomes aridity; "arid" means too little water, which will cause orchid plants to wilt, stunting growth, and even withering to death. "Dry" and "moist" represent moderate water levels, which is the state orchids enjoy for growth. To understand the key issues of "dry" and "moist," one must carefully observe and experience in practice, gradually accumulating experience to truly master it. There is no shortcut; it requires no less than "three years of effort." Generally speaking, when the growing medium on the pot surface is dry but not arid, and the bottom hole of the pot is moist but not wet, this is the best time to water orchid plants. There is no need to wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering, otherwise it will have adverse effects on the growth and development of orchids.
VI. Watering Orchid Plants Should Be Based on Natural Factors
Watering orchid plants should be based on various natural factors affecting transpiration, such as humidity, temperature, light, wind, season, and weather, so as to make different water management measures.
1. Water according to seasonal changes and the specific growth conditions of orchids. In spring, summer, and autumn, when orchids are in a period of vigorous growth, water frequently and thoroughly, and never give half-watering. During the high-temperature period of midsummer, also water frequently, abundantly, and thoroughly, and never give half-watering, to help eliminate stale air in the pot. From late autumn to early spring, when temperatures are low and plant growth is slow, water less. In cold winter, when plants basically stop growing, water less or not at all, but the potting soil must be kept moist; otherwise, it will affect the smooth progress of plant metabolism, delay the emergence of young shoots, and the young shoots will be thin and weak.
2. Water according to the size of the orchid pot and the number of plants. If the pot is large and there are many plants, water frequently, abundantly, and thoroughly, and never give half-watering. If the pot is small and there are few plants, water frequently, in smaller amounts, and thoroughly, and never give half-watering.
3. Water according to the growing medium in the orchid pot. Coarse and hard growing media have good aeration and drainage but very poor water and fertilizer retention, so water frequently, abundantly, and thoroughly, never give half-watering, and also fertilize frequently. Mixed hard and soft growing media have relatively poorer aeration and drainage but relatively better water and fertilizer retention, so the intervals between watering and fertilizing should be appropriately extended. Soft growing media have relatively even poorer aeration and drainage but better water and fertilizer retention, so the intervals between watering and fertilizing should be extended even more.