From www.aos.org
by Turtle Pond Orchids
Avoid overwatering which leads to the demise of many more orchids
than underwatering. Constant wetness will cause the roots to rot, which
leaves the plant without a means for taking up nourishment which then
causes the leaves to droop and will eventually kill the plant. The
classic advice is to water the day before the plant dries out. If you
have to let the plant go dry to figure out what a dry plant weighs, it
will not kill the plant and will make you a better grower. Another
measure is to use the pencil trick (the point of a sharpened pencil,
when inserted into the medium, will darken with moisture if the plant
has enough water). And, there's always the old standby - put your finger
in the mix. If it feels wet, it is wet. If you aren't sure whether it
is time to water, wait one more day.
"Evenly moist," while the most commonly given advice on watering, is
the least easily explained. Because most plants are grown in plastic
containers a good diagnosis is the weight of the plant: heavy - does not
need watering; light - does require water. With a little practice, one
can easily tell the amount of moisture remaining in the container.
Water your orchid early in the morning. This insures complete water
evaporation on the foliage as well as the crown by nightfall. If your
home is very warm or has low humidity you will most likely need to water
more often. The best place to water your plant is in the kitchen sink.
Use lukewarm water (do not use salt softened or distilled water) and
water your plant for about 15 seconds and be sure to thoroughly wet the
media. Then allow the plant to drain for about 15 minutes. It may appear
dry but it has had enough water. After the plants are watered, they
should be placed so that the pots do not stand in water. Some people
like to place the pots on "humidity trays" or in trays or saucers of
gravel or pebbles and water. The pot is placed on the pebbles above the
water line. This helps to insure that the base of the pot is not
immersed in water, increases humidity for the plant, and provides some
air circulation under the pot.
Please share your watering tips with us!!
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