How to Water a Phalaenopsis Orchid? Learn the Right Spot and Frequency

Many people have a special fondness for Phalaenopsis orchids, and the main reason is simple: the flowers are very beautiful, the appearance is very festive, and the blooming period is also fairly long. However, some beginner growers say Phalaenopsis orchids are hard to care for, hard to bloom, and prone to wilting. Of course, the root reason Phalaenopsis orchids get criticized by beginner growers is that many people never figure out the watering technique for Phalaenopsis orchids.

If you want a Phalaenopsis orchid to bloom all over the pot and extend its blooming period, the most important thing is watering. For the delicate Phalaenopsis orchid, the key to watering is once every 7-10 days, letting the potting medium complete one wet-dry cycle as much as possible. How do you choose when to water? When you feel the potting medium has become lighter, when there is no moisture, or when the roots turn white - any of these means you can water.

The specific watering steps are as follows:
Method 1. For a 3.5-inch pot, for example, it is recommended to use a cachepot (clay pot). Water must be poured from the top, with an initial amount of 100-150 ml. For later waterings, adjust according to the wet-dry cycle of the potting medium. It is best to place a tray under the bottom of the pot, so that water that has not drained through will be absorbed back. In addition, a point that needs special attention when watering is to avoid the neck of the Phalaenopsis orchid. If it accidentally gets wet, dry it promptly to prevent crown rot.
Method 2. Use a container cup with more than 200 ml of water, and soak 1/2 of the sphagnum moss's moisture level as appropriate. As time passes, the upper part will also become soaked.

Method 3. If the surrounding environment is dry and the potting medium has good drainage, you can use the soaking method. The method is to soak the pot up to below the neck, meaning the exposed roots all need to be covered with sphagnum moss, to avoid sunburn and shriveling from losing water. In addition, note that it is best to use one pot per batch of water, which can avoid bacterial growth.

Must-know advice for beginner growers:
Tip 1. Do not avoid watering just because you worry about root rot in Phalaenopsis orchids
Tip 2. When you encounter a new situation, you can first search online for care experience, then practice according to your own environment. Remember not to copy experience directly. Finally, I hope every flower-loving beginner can master the correct watering technique and grow Phalaenopsis orchids with explosive roots and explosive blooms.