Too much or too little water will not make orchids thrive. Thus, watering should also be done well. Here are The Tips How To Watering Orchids To Thrive
Homekitchenmagazine.com – Most orchids are grown in bark, coconut husk, fern fiber, or charcoal husks, rather than in the soil. So their need for water is relatively small.
This is certainly different from other ornamental plants planted in the soil mixed with compost.
As a result, many people assume, planting orchids are a complicated job.
In fact, just like other ornamental plants, watering with the right volume and moment is key.
Too much or too little water will not make orchids thrive. So, in addition to watering once a week, also pay attention to the planting media used.
The planting media for orchids will show you when the time is right to water them.
Read also:
What Is The Best Way To Grow Orchids?
Tips How To Watering Orchids To Thrive
Watering with ice cubes
Watering orchids with ice cube water is very beneficial for the growth and fertility of orchids.
How Often Should You Flush with Ice Cubes?
Depending on the season and where orchids are stored, put one cube twice a week on top of the medium pot under the leaves.
Take care to make sure no water is left in the pot and if possible, remove excess water if you notice any water pooling on the orchids.
You can also tell that there is too much water if the pot becomes very heavy and slippery as you tilt it.
Flush as needed.
The next Tips How To Watering Orchids To Thrive is flush as needed. There is no type of orchid that needs to be watered every day. Usually, watering too much can cause the roots of orchids to rot and eventually die.
Unlike most house plants, orchids must be watered only when the drought begins. Flush only when the plant is almost dry to mimic the natural environment of orchids.
Consider the local climate.
The frequency of watering is influenced by the humidity of the air in which you live, the sunlight received by orchids, and the temperature of the air. Since these factors vary according to the area and the house, there are no regulations on the frequency of watering orchids. You have to build a customized routine of the specific environment in which you live.
Tips How To Watering Orchids on the bark
When watering orchids, the goal is to give moisture to the bark, not the roots.
Always use room temperature water; not cold, not warm.
Avoid letting the water stay inside where the leaves meet the stems of orchids; for this will cause decay.
If a few drops of water are accidentally splashed on the leaves, dry them with a soft cloth or with a paper towel.
The best way to water orchids in a pot is to place the whole pot into a bowl that is at least as high as the bark line.
Pour the room-temperature water over the bark so that it fills the bowl just below the lip of the pot. Then, let the bark submerge for 10-15 minutes.
If you have put water in the bowl first, it is likely that the bark will be pushed out of the pot when it is sunk into the water.
After soaking for a specified time, remove the pot and let all the remaining water out of it, then place the orchid back in a bright and indirect light.
Clay pots are an excellent container for orchid plants, as they can absorb moisture. That way, when the bark dries, orchids can absorb water from there.
Orchids in sphagnum moss
There are also other planting media that can be used to plant orchids, namely, sphagnum moss.
For this planting medium, we can water it from above, like watering other plants. But it is easier to soak the planting media into the basin.
This tip is useful so that the water-binding moss has enough time to moisturize all its surfaces.
Sphagnum moss will hold moisture longer than bark. So keep in mind that moss can feel dry at the top, but still damp in the pot.
Before watering, put your finger in the moss until the first knuckle to make sure it is completely dry.
Be careful when watering orchids that grow in sphagnum moss, especially if the medium is in a plastic pot or glass that holds water.
The roots of orchids need air to grow, and too much water will inhibit the influx of air that is the cause of the decay of orchid roots.
Clay Pot Planting Media
If you choose to plant orchids in clay pots, then make sure the soil and the water content is appropriate. That is, giving too much water is bad because it can encourage decay in the roots of plants.
When watering orchids, pour water at room temperature, not cold, not warm into clay pots. If the water is well absorbed, then that means enough. In addition, clay is an excellent container for orchid plants because terracotta also absorbs moisture.
How often to water orchids?
Watering orchids are more of an art than a science.
How often to flush depends on a number of factors, including how warm the temperature in the house is, the amount of light on orchids, the type of orchid, and the type of media in which orchids grow.
The general rule is to flush once a week for drought-resistant orchid types such as Cattleyas, Oncidium, and Dendrobium.
Then, every 4-5 days for other orchids such as Phalaenopsis. But again, check the pot media before watering.
One for sure, whatever the medium of planting orchids, should be thoroughly moistened, then left to dry before being watered again at a later time.
Thank you very much for reading The Tips How To Watering Orchids To Thrive, hopefully useful.
