Watering Orchids
You also have to take into consideration the type of potting media you have.
Watering orchids. This insures complete water evaporation on the foliage as well as the crown by nightfall. The rule of thumb for orchids is to water once a week in the winter and twice a week in the summer. You will begin to see signs of distress in your foliage when there is a watering issue. In the wild orchids grow on trees and their roots are exposed to sun and air and water.
Orchid bark dries out more quickly than sphagnum moss. And it requires a basic understanding of how orchids work. Orchids lack an established water retaining root system so they rely on symbiotic fungi called mycorrhizae to help the orchid absorb water and other essential waterborne nutrients. Water orchids sparingly when their soil is almost dry.
Use lukewarm water do not use salt softened or distilled water. Over watering your orchids is far more lethal than not watering frequently enough. The pot weighting method of determining when to water is one of the easiest. Potted orchids require special watering that mimics their natural environment.
Watering orchids isnt complicatedthere is no secret handshake no lunar cycles involvedbut it does require a different mindset than watering regular houseplants. After watering do not allow residual or standing water to come in contact with the base of the orchid pot. If your home is very warm or has low humidity you will most likely need to water more often. If water gets trapped in between the leaves dry them quickly by using a piece of tissue or a cotton ball.
How to diagnose watering problems in orchids by steven a. Water your orchid early in the morning. Overwatering will result in yellow damaged leaves. Orchids are killed by improper watering usually by overwatering more likely than by any other practice.
In this method youre relying on feel instead of precise. The best and only time you should water orchids is in the morning. In most cases your orchid will come accompanied by a basic care guide. Improperly watering orchids is probably the cause of more orchid deaths than any other reason.
How to water orchids. As for fertilizing that will also vary. Frowine national gardening association overwatering and underwatering orchids show many of the same symptoms because the effect of both practices is the same damaged or destroyed root systems which result in a dehydrated orchid. The best place to water your plant is in the kitchen sink.
This is so that the plant has the rest of the day to soak up the water as well as the sun and before the soil gets too warm.