The correct way to water Phalaenopsis orchids in winter: cold water or warm water?

When watering Phalaenopsis orchids in winter, on a freezing day, do you just fill a basin with tap water and pour it on with a splash, or should you be a bit more particular and use warm water? Will cold water "frostbite" its roots? This question seems like a small matter, but in fact many flower growers have stumbled over it.

Let's make the answer clear first: you definitely should use warm water, don't just pour tap water straight on. That is no different from "throwing cold water" on the Phalaenopsis orchid, and it easily causes problems. Why can't you use cold water? The Phalaenopsis orchid is native to the tropics, and it usually likes an environment of 15-25

So how do you prepare the warm water? It doesn't need to be too complicated. Just fill a basin with tap water and leave it indoors for half a day to a day, so the water temperature is about the same as room temperature. It should feel neither cold nor hot to the touch, similar to the warm water we use to wash our hands. Watering this way, the Phalaenopsis orchid's roots will be comfortable and can normally absorb water.

Besides water temperature, there are a few small tips to pay attention to when watering Phalaenopsis orchids in winter:

First is the watering time. It is best to choose noon. At this time the temperature is relatively high, and after watering the water can slowly penetrate, and the roots will not get chilled because the temperature is too low. In the morning and evening the temperature is low, so don't water, as it easily causes problems.

Next is the amount of water. It must be "little". In winter the Phalaenopsis orchid grows slowly, uses less water, and the potting soil dries slowly too. Before watering, feel the potting soil first. Water again only when the top 2-3 cm down from the surface is dry. When watering, pour slowly along the edge of the pot, and don't pour onto the leaf core and petals, otherwise water collecting in the leaf core easily causes rot, and petals touched by water may also become moldy. After watering, pour out the excess water in the saucer at the bottom of the pot, and don't let the flowerpot soak in water.

There is also the watering frequency, which cannot be fixed rigidly. Different places have different temperatures and humidity, and the potting soil dries at different speeds. For example, in the north with heating, the indoor air is dry and the potting soil dries quickly, so it may need watering once every 10-15 days; in the south where there is no heating, the temperature is low and the humidity is high, so watering once every 20 days or even once a month may be fine. The key is to look at how dry or wet the potting soil is, and don't water "on schedule" based on feeling.

In addition, when watering Phalaenopsis orchids in winter, it is best to use the same water as usual, and don't suddenly switch to well water, river water, or other water with a different temperature. Stability is most important.

Overall, when watering Phalaenopsis orchids in winter, the core is "warm water, water at noon, water little, and check whether the potting soil is dry or wet". If you do these details well, the Phalaenopsis orchid can spend the winter comfortably, and next year it may even bloom with even more beautiful flowers!