What water to water orchids or what epiphytic beauties like

Please advise what water to water orchids with? Mom gave me phalaenopsis, very beautiful, with large tiger inflorescences. This is my first orchid, I have always dreamed of such flowers, and our prices are very "bite". Now my joy knows no bounds, but I'm afraid to do something wrong. I water all my indoor plants with rainwater at room temperature. I read that for epiphytes it needs to be heated. Is this true and how often should the substrate be moisturized?

The most common mistake made by orchid growers is incorrect watering. And this applies not only to the frequency of water procedures, but also to what water to water orchids. These plants are tropical in nature and are very fond of moisture and humid air, while they are extremely negative about its excess. In addition, they do not like our tap water, hard, "filled" with chlorine, with an admixture of calcium salts. The latter are deposited on the roots responsible for the nutrition of the flower and prevent the flow of nutrients into the outlet. Excessively frequent watering and “wrong” water can destroy delicate beauties. To prevent this, it is necessary to choose the optimal irrigation regime, focusing on the conditions of detention.

What water to water orchids

The best option, of course, is to use rainwater for irrigation. Under natural conditions, it is she who serves as a source of moisture for epiphytes. If it is not possible to collect rainwater, you can use the following options:

1. Pass water from the tap through a drinking filter. This will help cleanse it of unwanted impurities and salts.
2. Boil tap water and let it settle. Drain carefully so that no sediment remaining on the bottom of the dishes gets into the watering can.
3. Use distilled water, but be sure to mix it with settled water in a 2: 1 ratio.

For watering orchids, the water should be slightly warmed up to a temperature of 35 °. You can soften hard water by acidifying it with a small amount of oxalic or citric acid.

How often to water

The watering regime depends on the season, the stage of development of the orchid and the temperature in the room. During the flowering period and in summer, plants need more frequent moisture, including spraying the leaves. However, this should be done no more than 1 time per week. An exception is too high a temperature. If the room is hot, you can water it 2 times a week, but not before the bark dries out.

It is easy to determine this visually: the roots are clearly visible through the transparent walls of the pot. Green color and droplets of condensation on the walls of the container indicate that substrate still wet. But when the roots become gray, the flowerpot becomes dry inside and makes it easier on the weight - it's time to water.

In winter, it is enough to moisturize orchids once every two weeks. But again, if the room is warm and there is a lot of light, the substrate can dry out in 1-1.5 weeks.

Important nuances about watering orchids - video