Phalaenopsis watering rules in summer: is it better to water in the morning or in the evening?

Does summer make you worry about watering? Water in the morning or in the evening? This is no small matter; get it wrong and your orchid may wilt.

When watering Phalaenopsis in summer, is it better to water in the morning or in the evening? Choose the morning first (7before o'clock, when the sun is not fully out), and absolutely do not choose the evening (especially after 8o'clock). Why? The midday sun in summer is so harsh that the temperature can soar to over thirty degrees. If you water in the morning, the temperature has just started to rise, and the temperature of the tap water (after standing) is similar to the temperature of the potting soil, so it will not shock the roots; the water slowly seeps down, and the excess water can evaporate with the daytime temperature, so the area around the roots will not stay wet all the time. But watering in the evening is troublesome: the temperature drops at night, water evaporates slowly, and the pot may stay damp all night long. Phalaenopsis roots are delicate to begin with, and soaking in wet soil for a long time easily causes root rot. This is no joke.

So what other specific rules are there for watering Phalaenopsis in summer?

First, the amount of water must be controlled well. Phalaenopsis likes moisture but fears waterlogging. When watering in summer, do not pour it all into the pot at once; it is best to water slowly and let the water seep down along the edge of the pot, and stop as soon as you see water starting to leak from the bottom of the pot. Remember, less is better than more. If it lacks water, the leaves will at most be a little wilted, and it can recover after you quickly add water; if there is too much water and the roots rot, then it is hard to save.

Second, the water temperature must also be noted. In summer, the water from the tap is sometimes so hot from the sun that it definitely cannot be used directly to water flowers; too great a temperature difference easily shocks the roots. It is best to draw the water in advance, leave it on the balcony for a while, and use it once the water temperature is close to the surrounding environment; that way the orchid is comfortable.

Furthermore, the watering frequency cannot be generalized. Some people think that because summer is hot, they should water every day, but this is actually a misconception. Watering Phalaenopsis depends on how wet or dry the potting soil is; generally, water again when the surface of the potting soil feels dry and the top one or two centimeters are also a bit dry. If the potting soil is still wet and you keep watering, root rot is inevitable. In addition, in places at home with good ventilation and strong light, water evaporates quickly, so you can water a little more often; in places with poor ventilation and little light, you must water fewer times and adjust flexibly.

Also, when watering, try not to splash water onto the leaves and petals. Summer temperatures are high, and if water droplets on the leaves are exposed to the sun, they may burn the leaves like a magnifying glass, and water on the petals also easily causes rot. So when watering, it is best to aim at the potting soil; if you accidentally splash the leaves, wipe them quickly with a cloth.

Finally, if you find that the potting soil of the Phalaenopsis does not drain well, for example, if it still does not leak water half a day after watering, then you must repot it quickly. Although repotting in summer requires care, it is still better than letting the orchid rot in the soil. When repotting, use a special orchid potting mix with some bark and perlite added; it has good air permeability, and after watering the water can drain out quickly, so the roots can grow strong.

When watering Phalaenopsis in summer, remember these points: "water in the morning, use a small amount, check dryness and wetness, match the water temperature, and do not splash the leaves," and basically there will be no big problems. Observe more and pay more attention, and it will certainly grow vigorously and bloom abundantly.