Watering "The Main Killer Of Orchids"
The bulk of orchids like to be moist but not sitting in water. What works for us may need adjusting to your growing conditions. As we harvest and collect 100% of all our water used we do conserve water where possible. Things to remember when working out how and when to water is your growing conditions, potting mix (medium) and whether your orchid is growing inside or in the garden in a tree,
an "expert" is an unknown amount of drips under pressure, an expert to me is some one that may of killed a few orchids to learn how and where to grow them, please remember what works for your neighbour may not for you. MEDIUM, CONDITIONS AND WATER
Don't get your thermomater and note book out just have a good look around your growing area at different times of the day
WHAT IS YOUR ORCHID POTTED IN?
If in a tree/stump is it well drained, in full sun etc.......
The type of pot eg terracotta, plastic with holes at base only or holes in the side of the pot (these will dry out more quickly) what about my favourite a glass jar or glazed pot with no drain holes at all. These are found in the florist industry etc...... and need repotting ASAP or after flowering TOOOOOO WET!!!!!
When buying an orchid have a good look at the pot and potting mix some retail stores will hide some potting mix with glass, pebbles, chip, what ever will work to sell you the plant and underneath may be orchid medium or just rubbish.
AT HOME
Dig your finger into your pots and see if it is moist, wet or dry, feel the weight of your pots, get to know Your
- CONDITIONS even in covered areas when it rains go out and have a look, If rain is coming in on some plants and not others you may have a tree over top that stops or reduces the rain fall. Take some time and look around this is how everyone learns and sometimes you find flower spikes you didn't even know where coming.
- TEMPERATURE is it hot and dry or just hot is your plant on the back of a neighbours tin wall that the sun hits or Cold and wet. Cold wet conditions are perfect conditions for a lot of fungal problems
- WIND, It is good to have most types of orchids sheltered from the wind. breeze is ok and will normally help reduce fungus but remember breezes can be really cold at night WET AND COLD? Wind can also dry out pots quicker in the heat of summer. However, good air movement is essential.
- Shade is it full shade, afternoon or morning sun. In my local area good growing conditions are sun till 8-9am and dappled light after as we can get hot in summer
- SUN where we are located there is only a handful of orchids and bromeliads that will grow in full sun
- RAIN if we get 5-10mm of rain this is counted as being watered for orchids growing outside. orchids undercover will still need watering
with all this in mind it is harder to kill orchids from under watering, and easy to kill orchids from too much water
Happy Growing