Nuances and frequency of recharge - the answer to the questions "when" and "how much"
Orchids should be watered in the morning. Spraying is best done during the day. At this time of day, the plant most of all needs humidification of the surrounding air. The frequency and amount of watering of orchids depends on their type, each of which has its own characteristics in this part of care. You should learn more about them at the place of purchase of the flower. However, you can also use the general guidelines below. They apply to almost all types of orchids.
It should be noted right away that both excess moisture in the planting substrate due to overflow of water during irrigation and overdrying of the root system in the case of this type of care less often than necessary are destructive for this plant. But orchids will more easily tolerate a slight "thirst" than the little "swamp" formed in their pot. Overflowing water for these flowers is much more dangerous than underfilling. Watering frequency depends on a number of factors. The most important of these is humidity. Optimal for orchids - 50–70%. The higher the humidity within this range, the better for the flower and less watering.
Blooming orchid
Another important factor is air temperature. The higher it is, the more plants release moisture through the leaves and, accordingly, they will have to be watered more often. To some extent, the frequency of watering also depends on the lighting, the size of the planting container and the type of substrate, as well as on the time of year and the current life cycle of the orchid. In winter, the plant's growth slows down, and it is necessary to feed it with moisture less often than in spring, when the flower wakes up and activates its development, and in summer. At the same time, in winter, due to heating, the air in the room can be dry, and then more frequent watering will be required than is expected at this time of the year with normal humidity.
And, of course, the orchid should be watered more often during flowering and during the period of active growth - during the period of "normal" development, the plant needs less moisture. How often to water an orchid, no specialist will say for sure. The above factors are constantly making adjustments. There are only recommendations from which to build on. A normally developing orchid growing in a pot, depending on the species and age, must be watered in the summer from about 2 times a week to 1 every 13 days. In case of low humidity and heat, it is recommended to place an open container with water, for example, a jar or a mug, next to the flower.
Better to use a wide container - it may be an unnecessary pallet. The moisture evaporating from the container will reduce dryness and will not only allow not to frequent watering, but will also have a beneficial effect on the development of the plant, as well as its flowering. It will not be superfluous if such a container is always next to the flower. Also in the heat, daily single spraying is recommended. An orchid growing on a block will have to be watered almost daily, regardless of the season. In addition, it must be sprayed every day, 2-3 times. This is due to the fact that the block dries very quickly. Usually, by the end of the next day after the last watering, it is completely dry. And if you do not do such frequent spraying, then the drying time of the block will be further reduced.
Keeping these recommendations in mind, nevertheless, when deciding on the next watering of a plant growing in a pot, one should proceed from the degree of its necessity. It is possible to determine whether an orchid needs water replenishment by the state of the substrate, roots and other signs.Experienced growers even determine by the weight of the pot. It is noticeably lighter with dried substrate. The latter should almost completely dry out, and only then can the next watering be performed. But it is more reliable and easier to determine the state of the substrate with the help of a long wooden stick reaching the bottom of the pot. It should be inserted into the planting filler and left in it for 2 hours. If the wood of the stick absorbs at least a drop of moisture, then watering should be postponed.
It is easy to tell if an orchid needs moisture when it grows in a transparent pot. If there are condensation droplets on the inside of its walls, it means that the plant does not need water yet. The color of the roots is more eloquent than all other signs and will inform about the current state of the orchid. If they are bluish-gray or white - it's time to water the plant, greenish - there is still enough moisture.
After transplant
The pot with the transplanted plant should be immersed in warm water for half an hour, and then put in a sunny place. This procedure will ensure maximum soil moisture and warming up of the roots. The next watering will only be required after 2 weeks. Learn more about watering the plant after transplanting here.
If during transplantation the plant has received mechanical damage, the wound should be sprinkled with activated carbon and protected from moisture.
Watering options:
- The upper one is from a watering can or a bottle.
- Bottom - a pot with a plant is immersed in warm water for 20-30 minutes.
- Hot shower.
- Wick.
Watering instructions:
- Prepare water. The water should settle for a few days and be warm. The optimum temperature will be a few degrees above room temperature.
- Decide on a container for irrigation. You can use a regular garden watering can, plastic bottle, or pitcher. To immerse an orchid in water, a pallet or bowl with high sides is suitable. Water containers must be clean and free of deposits.
- Prepare the plants. Check the moisture content of the soil and the presence of wounds on the roots of the orchid. Drain off excess water. This point is especially important when immersing the pot in a bowl of water. Water should not be retained in the pot holder.
- Provide adequate lighting. Orchids need sun after watering. Darkness and excess moisture can lead to decay.
Watering orchids when kept outdoors should be well thought out. Plants must be protected from drafts and sunburn. It is better to water the flowers in the morning, when the air is just beginning to warm up.
It is advised to spray street orchids with a mixture of water and a couple of drops of neem oil every 2-3 weeks. This mixture will protect plants from parasites and insects.
It is better to keep flowers in hanging pots or at a distance of 1.5 meters above the ground - this will protect them from pests and freezing of the roots. In a suspended state, wick irrigation can be organized for orchids. For this, the plants must be kept in loose, breathable soil.
The substrate is mixed from bark, rotted leaves and moss. The share of land should be minimal. The bottom of the main pot is fitted with a single central hole. From it, somewhere from the middle of the pot, a small plastic or nylon tube is drawn, which is immersed in the lower pot, always filled with water. In appearance, this design looks like two glasses inserted into each other.
The essence of such an invention is that the plant itself regulates the flow of moisture as needed. The owner of the flower only needs to add water to the lower container as it disappears.
This irrigation method was invented relatively recently, but has already made it easier for many flower growers to cultivate various indoor and garden crops.
The ideal air humidity for orchids is 60-70%. To maintain the required microclimate, you can get a special air humidifier or put a bowl of water next to the plant. You can also let a large pot of water boil over by closing all doors and windows.
Orchids are plants that need a lot of moisture. Watering takes a lot of time and effort, however, the variety of methods of hydration allows you to choose the most effective and convenient method. Well thought out and timely watering will provide the orchid owner with a healthy and regularly flowering plant that will delight the eye for many years.
Watering orchids at home
Water for irrigation should be saturated with oxygen, for which it should be poured several times from one container to another before this procedure. There are several ways to water your orchid.
Hot shower once a month
One way to water is with a hot shower. This method contributes to the rapid growth of green mass and high-quality flowering. In addition, rinsing the leaves with a regular shower cleanses them of pests and protects them from disease.
This shower is done as follows:
- You should put containers with flowers in the bath and watered using a shower head under low pressure with soft water with a temperature of up to 45 degrees, optimally 38-42 degrees. Previously, half an hour before such a shower, the plant must be well watered.
- After the shower, leave the containers in the bath for at least 20 minutes to drain excess liquid.
- After 40 minutes, wipe the young shoots and leaves of the plant with a dry napkin. In Wanda and Phalaenopsis orchids, the core should also be wiped so that it does not start to rot, otherwise the plant will stop developing.
- How often can a hot orchid shower be done? Experts recommend, no more than 1 time per month.
Watering orchids with a warm shower
Immersion
In this case, the pot is immersed in the prepared water. The pot should be lowered slowly so that dry roots do not push the plant out of the pot, and keep in water for 40 minutes. After removing the pot from the water, you need to hold it in the air until the excess water comes out. Watering by immersion is considered the most economical and quite effective, but it can be done provided that neither the substrate nor the plant itself is affected by any diseases.
Watering orchids by immersion
Watering with a watering can
Water with a watering can and with a weak pressure pours the surface of the flowerpot, without touching the leaf axils and growth points. It is necessary to pour until water flows from the holes at the bottom of the pot. Allow time to remove excess water and repeat the procedure after a couple of minutes. Excess water that flows into the pan should be poured out of it.
Watering orchids from a watering can
Root spraying
This type of irrigation is used for orchids grown in blocks, that is, without using a substrate. In this case, the roots dry faster than in pots of soil. It is recommended to water with a spray gun in the "fog" mode, directing it exactly to the roots, until their color changes (turns green). Carry out the following procedure as the root system dries up.
Having figured out how to water an orchid in a pot, it remains to correctly follow the proposed recommendations and wait for the moment these beautiful flowers bloom.
Spraying orchid roots
Watering Tips
There is one rule that every orchid owner must adhere to - it is better to underfill the plant than flood it. Most of them can tolerate minor droughts well. When blooming, the frequency of watering is slightly different from the usual regime. During this period, you need to water every 3 days. At normal times, the plant is watered 4 times a month, taking into account the moisture content of the soil. This is done like this: for 6-8 minutes, a pot with a plant is immersed in a small container filled with water.
Watering orchids by placing in a container of water
Water should be used soft, so it is advisable to take care of this in advance. For example, rainwater or melt water can be useful. If you could not get one, then you can take boiled one. Moreover, it must be cooled down: for irrigation, water is used with a temperature not higher than 37 degrees. You can also use a spray bottle to add extra spraying to the plant.
Additionally, you can spray the orchid with a spray bottle.
Watering patterns can be affected by air humidity or the season of the year, so do this procedure more often if the air is too dry. Therefore, you do not need to focus on the exact amount of time between watering the plant, since all recommendations are approximate.
The whitened roots of the plant are a kind of signal for watering.
Hydrogen peroxide spray
Peroxide concentration of 3% can be used. To increase the useful consumption of the drug, use microsprays in 50 ml vials with a spray. This device will give a small jet.
Note! All vegetating parts of the plant should be sprayed: foliage, stem, roots. Process the visible part of the substrate
Beforehand, it is important to make sure that there is no dust on the plant. The procedure should be carried out in non-sunny weather or in the morning or in the evening, so that no burns appear.
The air temperature should be within 22 degrees. During processing, it is important to try so that the drops do not run down the stem, avoid falling on the flowers. After spraying, inspect the plant for water in the leaf axils and core. Remove excess liquid with a paper towel
The procedure should be carried out in not sunny weather or in the morning or in the evening, so as not to burns. The air temperature should be within 22 degrees
During processing, it is important to try so that the drops do not run down the stem, avoid falling on the flowers. After spraying, inspect the plant for water in the leaf axils and core
Remove excess liquid with a paper towel.
The most important thing to know in order to successfully grow orchids is that their roots are different from the roots of, for example, a cactus, and therefore require a completely different approach to watering.
succinic acid
This is a top dressing used only to help or restore the plant in such cases:
- lack of flower growth;
- phalaenopsis processing;
- the presence of signs of oppression (peduncles or a sluggish plant do not appear);
- resuscitation of dying flowers.
Note! In conclusion, we can say that it is often not necessary to moisturize the orchid. It is recommended to carefully monitor the reaction of the plant to the action of feeding.
The frequency of treatment with succinic acid is up to twice a week for recovery and once a month for prophylaxis.
Frequent mistakes
When watering, some novice growers make mistakes. Let's consider the main ones.
- One of the most common mistakes many make is sprinkling aloe on top. This is unacceptable for a plant, since it leads to the appearance of yellow spots on the leaves, which subsequently turn brown. If dust has accumulated on the leaves, wipe it with a dry soft cloth.
- Sometimes aloe leaves unexpectedly. The reason for this behavior of the flower lies in the fact that the water for irrigation was too cold. This is most dangerous in the summer, if there was a very large difference between the temperature in the room and the temperature of the liquid.
- Excess moisture accumulating in the pan for a long time, in addition to promoting the development of bacteria and fungi and other microorganisms pathogenic for the plant, can cause significant cooling and death of the roots. It is especially necessary to monitor this in winter if the pot is located on the windowsill, since in such cases, during severe frosts, its bottom can freeze.
- Insufficient watering also causes the death of the plant. The main signs of a lack of moisture are wilting, thinning leaves. To return them turgor and a healthy look, the soil in the pot should be well moistened once, and then the mode and abundance of watering should be correlated with the appearance of the flower.
- A large amount of drainage in the pot and moderate, correct watering leads to the fact that the aloe does not get drunk with water, since the liquid does not stay in the expanded clay, but quickly flows into the pan.If the soil dries out too quickly, and the plant looks sluggish, then it must be removed and some of the drainage removed. With a high layer of expanded clay, the water will not reach the roots even when watering aloe through the sump.
- Failure to comply with the watering regime is also a common mistake of inexperienced gardeners. Instead of sparse, moderate watering, the plant is watered a little every day, which leads to gradual, not immediately noticeable decay of the root system. One of the characteristic signs that watering must be stopped is the appearance of a white or rusty coating and a mushroom smell on the ground.
You will learn how to properly water aloe in the video below.
