How to water orchids so they bloom regularly
The key to the well-being of most indoor plants is proper care, especially adherence to a suitable watering schedule. Knowing how to water your orchids during different phases of their life cycle will not only help prevent drying out or excessive moisture in the roots, but also help you achieve regular flowering throughout the year.
Determining the need for watering
A key rule of thumb when watering is to moisturize the substrate abundantly, but not often. Excess moisture is more dangerous for most varieties of orchids than deficiency, therefore, before carrying out the next watering, the root system and soil must completely dry out.
You can determine that a plant needs watering by the following criteria:
- there are no condensation droplets on the walls of the transparent flowerpot;
- the roots have lost their rich green color and acquired a grayish tint;
- the weight of the pot when raised is much less than after watering;
- support stick, pulled out of the substrate, dry along its entire length.
Irrigation water
The best option for watering orchids is soft water with a neutral pH. Tap water often does not meet these requirements, and therefore needs to be disinfected and softened.
Experienced flower growers recommend treating water in one of the following ways:
- boil or filter - this will help get rid of chlorine compounds, bacteria and other dangerous impurities;
- dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of oxalic acid in 5 liters of water and let the solution stand for 2-3 days, then carefully pour the liquid into another container without stirring up the precipitate;
- add 1 clove of garlic per liter of water to disinfect the plant and intensify the flowering process;
- prepare a weak solution of manganic acid as a root disinfectant.
Distilled water should be discarded. This product is only suitable for rinsing roots and leaves.
The water temperature for watering orchids should not be lower than room temperature. The most comfortable option for flowers is from 25˚ to 35˚ Celsius.
How to water orchids
In addition to observing the frequency, it is important to find the right way to water orchids. There are several options for wetting the substrate, each of which has its own characteristics.
From the watering can
Watering the orchid from a watering can with a long spout is recommended in the morning, so that the root ball has time to absorb moisture during the day.
The procedure should be carried out as follows:
- place a flower pot on a pallet, into which excess liquid will drain;
- gently pour water onto the roots until it flows out of the special holes of the pot;
- take a break for 3-4 minutes and repeat the procedure 2-3 times;
- remove residual liquid from the pan, since constant contact of the lower part of the roots with water will eventually lead to their rotting.
When watering an orchid, it is important to avoid water penetration into the joints of the stem and leaves. If this happens, the liquid should be gently blotted with a napkin.
Immersion in water
This method is optimal when caring for orchids, as it promotes uniform soaking the soil along the entire height of the pot.The flowerpot should be carefully placed in a larger container filled with water and left for a period of 10 to 30 minutes. The immersion time depends on the size of the pot, the compaction of the substrate and the ambient temperature.
After moistening the peat mixture, the pot with the plant must be removed from the water and wait for the excess liquid to drain.
Warm shower method
Watering a room orchid with a shower head allows you not only to saturate the epiphyte with moisture, but also to wash away dirt from its leaves and roots. Often, this method of moisturizing serves as an impetus for the awakening of the plant from sleep and the formation of shoots and buds.
The temperature of water pouring onto the plant in weak streams should not exceed 40˚ Celsius to avoid scalding. After completely wetting the substrate, the orchid must be left in the bath for 20-25 minutes for excess liquid to drain. Moisture that has penetrated into the core of the leaf should be carefully removed with a dry cloth.
Do not water the orchid from the shower during flowering and bud formation. A stressful situation can lead to premature shedding of flowers.
Irrigation of roots
Spraying from a spray bottle is used when growing orchids without soil. As a result of constant contact of roots with air, moisture evaporation occurs much faster than with the classical method of growing. Plants may need daily watering.
Irrigation of the root system is carried out using a spray bottle with small holes at a distance of at least 10 cm from the flowers. Spraying must be continued until the color of the roots changes from silver to bright green.
How often to water the orchid
Under normal growth conditions in the summer, a potted orchid needs watering 1-2 times a week. In winter, the frequency of soil moistening should be reduced to 1 time in 12-14 days. This is a general irrigation scheme, but there are important nuances.
During the rest period
The dormant state of an orchid begins after the end of flowering and can last from two weeks to 2-3 months. At this time, the plant is gaining strength for further ejection of buds and subsequent flowering.
It is not necessary to water the orchids during the dormant period too often - between wetting the substrate must completely dry out. If this phase of the plant's life fell on the winter, then watering can be reduced to 1 time in 14-16 days. During a break between flowering in the hot season, it is necessary to moisten the soil as it dries - on average, once every 7-10 days.
During bud formation
During the period of peduncle formation, moisture from the roots enters the stems, leaves and buds, so the frequency of watering the orchid must be increased. The substrate must be maintained in a more moist state than during the dormant period of the plant. In addition, care must be taken that the density of the soil is not too high.
When budding in spring and summer, it is necessary to moisten the orchid root system every 4-5 days. If the buds are formed in autumn or winter, one watering per week is enough.
During flowering
With the onset of flowering orchids, the substrate must be moistened every 4-5 days. In this case, it is important that it has time to dry out in order to avoid root rot.
The best way to water your orchid is by immersing the pot in a container filled with prepared water. This reduces the risk of moisture getting on the flowers and the junctions of leaves and stems.
Duration of soil moistening should not exceed 10 minutes.
How to water orchids after purchase and transplant
A freshly purchased flower needs short-term isolation to identify possible pests and destroy them. For a period of 5 to 7 days, the plant should be placed in a shaded place separately from other indoor flowers and refrain from watering and feeding. After this time, the orchid should be accustomed to sunlight and proceed to the classic watering regime.
Orchid transplant should be carried out after acquisition or in the spring, after coming out of a dormant state. After transplanting into a larger pot, the plant should be immersed in 25˚-35˚ Celsius water for 20 minutes. After the excess liquid has drained off, the orchid flowerpot should be removed to a shaded place for 2 weeks. Watering during this period is not necessary.
After the end of the period of adaptation to the new substrate, the epiphyte again needs regular hydration to restore the balance of nutrients.
Watering frequency can be up to 2-3 times a week, depending on the rate of drying of the substrate, temperature and humidity in the room.
How to water different types of orchids
The regularity of watering orchids depends not only on the season and phase of development, but also on the type of plant. On sale there are both moisture-loving epiphytes and flowers that need a dry substrate.
| Orchid variety | The best way to water | Recommended frequency |
| Phalaenopsis | Immersion in warm water for 20-30 minutes until the substrate is completely saturated | Depends on the period of life: during active growth - once a week; during flowering - every 4-5 days; at rest - once every 12-14 days |
| Dendrobium | Immersion in water at a temperature of 25˚ Celsius for 5-10 minutes | In summer - every 2-3 days; no watering is required during the rest period |
| Cymbidium | Immersion in water for uniform soil moisture | In summer - once every 7-10 days as the substrate dries out; in winter - no more than 2 times a month |
| Cattleya | Watering over the ground from a watering can, avoiding stems and leaves; during the rest period - moistening the substrate from the spray bottle | Watering as the soil dries up; warm shower - once a month. |
| Wanda | Immersion in water for 10-15 minutes when growing in a pot, or irrigation in case of an open root system | In summer - from 2 to 4 times a week; in winter - once a week |
When choosing a plant, ask the seller how to properly water an orchid of this type, whether it needs dormant periods, and what conditions must be created for flowering. This will help to avoid mistakes that entail excessive or insufficient soil moisture, which is fraught with root rot, leaf dryness and lack of flowers.