Will a Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) die if overwatered, and how much water is appropriate for each watering?

Do you want your own home-grown Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) to bloom all year round? Actually, the simplest thing is just to water it correctly. Some friends find this hard to believe? Aren't you supposed to fertilize and provide light too? Isn't watering something everyone knows how to do? Then why do people keep killing them?

When caring for a Phalaenopsis (moth orchid), from the moment you first buy it from the flower shop owner, the medium and fertilizer it comes with are usually sufficient, but not everyone truly masters scientific watering. Some friends will keep watering even when the soil is soaking wet, and even foolishly fertilize, which of course kills the plant. So, in what situations should you not water a Phalaenopsis (moth orchid)?

For beginners, right after bringing the Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) home, it is in a state of adapting to a new environment. At this time, do not rush to water it heavily. Observe it for the first week, and only water if even the bottommost sphagnum moss has dried out completely; otherwise, give the roots some buffer time, or they will easily suffocate and rot.

To judge whether to water, look through the transparent plastic pot at the sphagnum moss and roots. If the sphagnum moss looks and feels damp, and the roots are a vivid green, this means there is enough moisture. At this point you must not water, otherwise the roots will just sit soaked in water and develop problems.

Next, watering differs by season. In winter, as soon as the temperature drops, the Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) enters dormancy and grows very slowly, so you should water even less, about once every 2 to 3 weeks, and try to choose the warm midday to water; water that is too cold easily shocks the fragile roots. In other seasons, water once every 3 to 4 days, depending on the condition of the medium.

Finally, the watering method also matters. Use a fine-spouted watering can and pour slowly, try not to pour directly onto the stem, and each time pour about 100 to 200 ml, just enough to soak through; especially do not let water collect in the leaf axils, as this easily causes leaf rot. If you feel the Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) is especially short of water but you are afraid of overwatering, you can try the "absorption method": the technique is to soak the lower half of the pot in water and take it out once the sphagnum moss has absorbed water halfway through. With this method, be careful not to soak the leaves and stem, or the roots will rot!