Stop Watering Your Phalaenopsis the Same Way in Autumn as in Summer, or Your Good Intentions Will Do Harm
"Can I just keep using my summer watering method for my Phalaenopsis in autumn?" Honestly, every time I see this question, I worry for the orchid. A Phalaenopsis in summer and one in autumn are like two people in completely different states: in summer it needs to "quench its thirst," while in autumn it needs to "stay alive." If you keep watering the old way, the roots will rot before you even realize what's going on!
5-7 days, and watering thoroughly once the top 2 cm of the potting mix is dry. But autumn is different. Just touch your windowsill and you'll know: mornings and evenings are chilly, and daytime temperatures aren't as "roasting" as in summer. The Phalaenopsis's growth rhythm slowed down long ago, just like people feel sleepy in autumn, and its water needs have dropped along with it.
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There's also the timing and water temperature. In summer, for fear of burning the roots by watering at noon, people choose morning or evening; in autumn you need to be even more careful, and it's best to water during the warmest stretch, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Water temperature can't be neglected either. In summer, tap water left to sit for half a day is fine to use, but in autumn, if you water directly with cold water, the Phalaenopsis will "catch a chill" and its roots will immediately stop taking up water. It's recommended to put the water in a plastic bottle ahead of time, leave it next to the orchid for a day, and water once the water temperature is close to room temperature, so it won't shock the plant.
- autumn air humidity is low, but temperatures are low too, and water pooled in the leaf crown easily causes crown rot, while water on the petals can lead to mold. If you feel the air is too dry and want to raise humidity, spray the ground around the pot, not the orchid itself.
"supply on demand," while in autumn it's "better dry than wet." Don't assume that because watering this way in summer caused no problems, you can just copy it in autumn. Although Phalaenopsis is easy to grow, it still needs to be cared for in ways that change with the seasons. That's the only way it can get through winter safely and bloom again next spring!