Beginning gardeners often acquaintance the concept of roots, yet few know that different types of roots can do interesting things. You will often see photographs of “splotched” or “abridged” orchids, taken directly from the center of the plant where the roots appear to be most abundant. Most new orchid growers treat the roots like a puddle bottom in a garden, where we merely add nutrient liberally and watch the plant flourish.
When you treat your orchid like this, you are actually stopping the “puddle” from building up too much water and being bottom heavy. You need to be sure to give your orchid roots water on a consistent basis, so that they remain damp, not damp/shy.
So what is the best way of watering orchids?
The best way of watering orchids is to follow the 7 breaths of the art of bonsai. Simply say these seven words to yourself:
“Washing up” (dewy) – long and flat
“Sleeping” (lively) – medium length, medium width
“Still” (grey) – long andcloth
“Dead” (brown) – dry and withered
“Dead” (red) – alive
Watering orchids is also motivated by the desire to be aesthetic. The primary motivation is to make sure that your orchid has enough light to bloom. Another Instead is to have a professionally arranged design of blossoms.
Different types of orchids have different water needs. Most orchids are best bathed 3 to 4 times a week. Others want to be soaked 8 to 10 times a week. Yet there are some orchids that have special water needs. The Phalaenopsis orchids for example, should be soaked twice a week.
When should you water? The first important test is to know exactly how often you should water. Orchids should be watered once a week in the winter and maybe every second day in the summer. But the best advice for the average person is to water the orchid only ¾ of its size. The size of the pot should make a difference. A general rule of thumb for small pots is to soak them every 5 days and for large pots 1 to 2 times every 7 days.
The best time of day for watering orchids is in the morning rather than the afternoon. This allows sufficient moisture to remain in the roots and yet still air be circulate around the roots.
While many species of orchids do not require much watering, some varieties require an inch or so of water every 7 to 10 days. Such varieties are the Laelias, Cattelya, Cattleyas, and the like. There are also some orchids that do not need much watering. Phalaenopsis, Vanda, and Dendrobiums are examples of such orchids. By knowing the type of orchid you are growing you can get a better idea if you need to water or not.
There are ways to test the quality of your water. You can put an empty chocolate barrel in your home vegetable garden. If the water takes a few hours to evaporate, it is time to water your plants. If the water evaporates in a couple of days, you can stop watering it.
One way to know if you are watering the right amount is to check the bottom of your plant. If the water sits there, then you are definitely watering the plant incorrectly. Check the soil to see if it is moist. If you are talking about the foliage, then you are probably watering the plant incorrectly.
If you are doing the watering, then you need to know the water temperature. Watering should be done early in the morning. This leaves time for the water to absorb into the soil. If you water in the middle of the afternoon when the sun is strong, the majority of the water will evaporate before reaching the roots. During the winter, watering should be done later in the morning.
The amount of water you use on your orchid plants is important. Most orchids are found in tropical areas, so their normal watering schedule is warm, humid, and tropical. However, there are times when you must water your plant. This depends on the climatic conditions of your place. During those days, you must keep the potting media moist. You can mist the leaves during watering.
The best way to know if you are over-watering or under-watering your plant is to check the soil. If the soil is dry, then water your plant. If the media is moist, then you are okay. You do not want to drown your orchid.
