Orchids are a wonderfully diverse group of plants that are well known for their beautiful showy flowers. They are also known by many people to be difficult to care for. It is true that some orchid species are quite temperamental; generally speaking, orchids are a fairly hardy bunch. However, one aspect of orchid care that may lend to their difficult reputation is how to water orchids.
It is watering, most commonly overwatering, that leads to more orchid problems than any other aspect of their care. Most orchids with the beautiful flowers that people so highly prize are tropical epiphytes, meaning that they grow on trees or rock outcroppings, not rooted in thick soil. Orchid root systems are not used to soaking or sitting in extremely wet dirt and are quite sensitive to overwatering.
The proper frequency of watering will vary somewhat between different orchid species but generally watering once a week is right. During the winter when orchids are flowering, watering can be cut back to every 10-14 days. The soil should be damp but not soggy. The surface of the soil could be dry but don’t use that as the gauge, poke down to check on the lower layer, it could still be wet.
After keeping your orchids for a month or two if your plant’s leaves start to yellow, that is (usually) the sign of overwatering. If yellowing of the leaves starts to happen, let the plant dry out for an extra week and then increase the time between waterings for awhile.
It is very important when watering orchids not to let water sit on the leaves or at the base of the leaves where they connect. Take a look after watering to see if any water is sitting on the plant, if so, soak it up with a paper towel. If left there the water may cause spots to form on the leaves or even cause them to fall off. It is best to water your plants in the morning and then if any water gets left behind will be evaporated throughout the day.
Many people don’t give much thought to the type of water they give their plants but for optimal health of your orchids, it should be a consideration. The chlorine in municipal water supplies is not good for your plants, it probably won’t kill them but they will be much better off without the extra chemicals. A little bit of chemical every time the plants are watered will build up over time.
When watering orchids, water temperature is not crucial but it’s best not to use very cold water. Collected rainwater is perhaps the best option for your orchids, no chlorine and moderate temperature, but for many people it is not the most practical.
Your orchid pots will most likely have a dish or tray under them to collect water that runs through the pot after watering. Do not let the bottom of the pot sit in any standing water such as the dish under the pot. This could cause the roots to rot and kill the plant.
Watering orchids properly is the key to keeping them healthy and thriving for many years. Pay careful attention not to overwater or leave any part of the plant in contact with standing water and your orchids will reward you.
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About the Author:
Andrew Bartlett has been a plant and gardening enthusiast for over 30 years. He shares information on buying orchids, properly watering orchids, and other orchid care tips at his website www.orchidsinfo.com.
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