What are the signs of a dehydrated Phalaenopsis orchid, and how do you fix it?
The Lantern Festival has passed, and although the solar term Start of Spring has arrived, the temperature is still fairly cold, with people on the streets morning and evening still wearing down jackets. As a result, quite a few friends who keep Phalaenopsis orchids at home have recently started worrying about one thing: whether their orchids might be short of water. Spring weather is changeable; sometimes there is no wind, and when the wind picks up, it can blow quite hard, which makes the air drier and drier, and the edges of some leaves even begin to curl up slightly, which really tugs at the heartstrings. So what should novice growers do when they run into this situation?
Friends who grow plants all know that a plant's condition can actually be read clearly from its leaves. If the roots of a Phalaenopsis orchid are short of water, the leaves will show it: the edges will curl up, the color will no longer be a glossy green but become dull and lusterless, and even the leaf tips will dry out and the leaves will go limp and soft. Generally speaking, the situations above are clear signs of water shortage. Once you notice them, you must not delay any further; you have to act at once and give it water right away, or the plant will really suffer!
Before watering, we need to be clear about one thing: because the orchid is desperately thirsty at this point, the watering technique has to differ from ordinary watering. You must never just pour water in with a big splash, because doing so will only speed up the orchid's death.
At this point, the "soak method" is recommended: specifically, first place the flowerpot in a large basin filled with water, so that the water slowly seeps upward from the bottom of the pot, which reduces damage to the roots. At the same time, you can also use a small watering can to slowly pour water along the edge of the pot, so that the water goes into the soil gradually. Within 24 hours after watering, you also need to check the soil moisture at suitable times and keep it slightly moist.
In addition, for emergency rehydration you can also use a fine-mist spray bottle to spritz a little water on the leaf surfaces, which can increase the surrounding air humidity. However, when spraying, be careful about the timing: never spray when the sun is especially harsh, because once the sun shines on them, the water droplets on the leaves act like tiny magnifying glasses, focusing the sunlight, and the leaves will get scorched.
Besides the watering and rehydration tips mentioned above, when it is windy you should reasonably move it back indoors, and never leave it in a draft blowing directly on it, especially when the wind is cold, because then moisture is lost even faster. If your home gets especially strong light, then you might as well put up a shade net where the Phalaenopsis orchid is placed, or draw the curtains, to block the overly strong sunlight. If conditions allow, set up a humidifier nearby to increase air humidity; this way you can effectively ease the orchid's water shortage and let it grow comfortably!