Proper watering of phalaenopsis orchids. How to properly water an orchid at home: what kind of water and how many times a month How to properly water a home orchid

Proper watering of phalaenopsis orchids.  How to properly water an orchid at home: what kind of water and how many times a month How to properly water a home orchid
Proper watering of phalaenopsis orchids. How to properly water an orchid at home: what kind of water and how many times a month How to properly water a home orchid

Preface

The question of how often to water an orchid is perhaps the most worrying for all owners of this plant, because this stage of caring for it is very different from caring for conventional plants. What's so special about it?

How to water an orchid?

An orchid is an extremely delicate and sensitive flower. To care for this plant, proper watering is very important, in the absence of which it will first cease to please you with its lush flowering, and then it will completely wither. This process consists of many specific subtleties, because methods of moisturizing that are quite suitable for other types of indoor plants are simply contraindicated for orchids. There are several basic methods for properly watering this flower. Let's look at them in more detail.

Immersion method. To water in this way, take a bucket or deep basin and fill it warm water. Now lower the pot with the indoor plant into the container so that it is completely immersed in the liquid. This bath procedure for an orchid can last about half an hour. After this time, remove the plant and let the water drain from the leaves. This watering method is extremely convenient and saves both time and water. However, it can only be used if the flower does not have any damage or disease.

The watering can method is the simplest and most common method of watering orchids. It is recommended to do it in the afternoon. Use thin streams of water to moisten the entire area on which the plant is located. It is important that the liquid does not end up on its leaves. Water the soil until the excess begins to come out of the special holes at the bottom of the pot.

Root spraying is suitable for orchids growing on blocks. Fill the spray bottle with water room temperature and thoroughly spray the roots of the plants. This procedure is recommended to be carried out before lunch.

The warm shower technique was invented to maximize the effect of tropical downpours, which are common for orchid growth. It has a beneficial effect on the condition of the plant, promotes its growth and frequent flowering. And it is done extremely simply. Place the pot in the bottom of your bathtub and direct a gentle shower stream of warm water at the plant. It is recommended to carry out procedures several times during the month, and their duration can be up to fifteen minutes. At the end of the process, to remove excess liquid, the leaves of the plant should be wiped with a piece of dry soft cloth.

What kind of water and how often should you water your home orchid?

If you water an orchid with ordinary tap water, this tropical and rather pampered plant will quickly fade away and, of course, will not please you with colorful blooms. That's why caring owners you need to take care of the quality of water to moisturize the orchid. In doing so, pay attention to the following parameters:

  • temperature for watering should be about thirty-five degrees, it can be higher, but not lower, since the plant is extremely heat-loving;
  • acidity level (pH) – should not exceed 5, it can be reduced by adding lemon juice to the water;
  • softness - tap water is quite hard, which is detrimental to orchids; it can be softened with oxalic acid (0.5 tsp per 5 liters of water) or using a cleaning filter.

It is almost impossible to give a definite answer how many times a week or month you need to water an orchid. The mode and frequency are selected individually. This is primarily due to the rate of drying of the soil, substrate, and the root system of the flower. And this depends on a number of other related factors. These include:

  • degree of illumination;
  • pot sizes;
  • air temperature;
  • substrate size – it is believed that a large substrate dries faster, and a small one retains moisture longer;
  • degree of impact sun rays;
  • general humidity level;
  • Atmosphere pressure;
  • the composition of the substrate - for example, sphagnum moss or coconut chips retain moisture much better than, say, pine bark.

You can create an individual watering schedule by carefully observing the orchid. Make sure that the soil base does not dry out and that the soil always remains slightly moist. However experienced flower growers They say that overwatering is more dangerous for an orchid than underwatering. With excessive moisture, the roots of the plant begin to rot, which leads to its rapid death. You can determine that a flower needs watering thanks to simple test. Touch the soil in which your indoor orchid grows with your finger. If the soil remains dry at a depth of three centimeters, this means that it is dried out and the plant needs to be moistened.

General rules and features of watering

Experienced plant growers have identified a number of general rules For . For example, in a warm room with dry air, the plant should be watered more often than in low temperatures and high humidity. And on particularly hot days, it is also recommended to spray the orchid leaves with a spray bottle and humidify the air in the room. In general, moisturizing in the summer months should be more intense and frequent than in winter.

I would like to determine after how many days it is better to water the orchid, but even experts give a very vague answer. On average, it should be watered once every 5–13 days, focusing primarily on the degree of soil moisture. Irrigation should be quite rare, but plentiful. Orchids that grow in big pot, it is recommended to water less frequently than others. This is due to the fact that moisture stays longer in a large container. And since excess moisture is detrimental to the root system of plants, you should definitely make small holes in the bottom of the pot through which excess liquid will come out.

To regulate humidity, you can put a couple of centimeters of expanded clay on the bottom of the container - a special substance that has the ability to absorb a large number of water, and then give it away.

Orchid in clay pot should be watered less frequently than the plant in plastic container. This is due to the fact that in plastic pot the soil dries out unevenly, as if from top to bottom. Wherein upper layer The substrate may seem dry, but there is still enough moisture underneath. When watering, water should never fall on the flowers. And during intensive stem growth, the plant requires more frequent and abundant moisture.

The vagaries of different varieties of orchids and at the flowering stage

The frequency of watering an indoor orchid is largely dependent on the variety and variety of this plant.. Large orchids in large tubs are recommended to be watered approximately once every 10 days. Miniature varieties plants should be moistened after 2–3 days. Epiphytes grow on blocks, practically without soil - they should be moistened by daily spraying of the roots. In addition, once a week you should moisten the block itself with water and spray water from a spray bottle into the air.

The Phragmipedium variety requires permanently waterlogged soil. Therefore, it is recommended to water this type of orchid every day. Varieties such as miltoniopsis, paphiopedilum, vanda, and wulstekear thrive well with a sufficiently moist substrate. Watering these types of orchids should be done every 5–7 days. Caring for epidendrum and ludizia depends on the time of year. The presented varieties need intensive moisture during spring and summer period, but in autumn and winter months you should switch to a moderate watering regime.

Orchids of such varieties as encyclia, coelogina, brassia, catleya need abundant weekly irrigation, regardless of external circumstances. However, such plants need to dry thoroughly between waterings. Phalaenopsis – ideal variety for beginner orchid lovers. You can determine its need for moisture by the color of the roots. As long as they are green, the flower does not need irrigation. Dendrobium orchids are watered only when the soil is extremely dry.

Watering this type of plant, such as calantha, has a pronounced seasonal character. So, in the spring and summer months there is a period of rapid flowering of orchids. At this time, the flower needs daily irrigation. In autumn, when the plant sheds its leaves, its watering stops for about a month and a half and resumes with the appearance of the first green shoots.

During the flowering period, orchids in most cases require more frequent and intense moisture. The frequency of watering increases almost 2 times, and on average they are desirable after 3–4 days. It is very important for the well-being of the orchid that water does not get on its leaves and flowers. To prevent this from happening, pour water from a watering can, directing the stream directly to the roots of the plant. Best time to water blooming orchid- this is the morning hours.

How to properly water an orchid at home? How often should I water and with what water?

Close relatives of the indoor orchid, which can now be found in almost every home, are tropical plants monocot family. This means that this bright and beautiful flower loves moisture. If your indoor orchid grew in natural conditions, then the main source of moisture for it would be rain, and it would provide not only root nutrition, but also foliar nutrition.

It is clear that in ordinary apartment you will not be able to maintain air humidity at a sufficient level, so you will have to compensate for the lack of moisture with proper watering.

How do you know when it’s time to water an orchid?

Watering an orchid

If, based on everything written above, you decided that you need to water the orchid often and abundantly, then you are deeply mistaken. This flower, like all the others, does not like waterlogged soil very much. If you fill the soil with water, then after some time the roots will begin to rot and, as a result, this will lead to the death of your beauty.

Therefore, it will be better if you pay close attention to the flower and do this only if necessary. Most gardeners water the orchid only when condensation completely disappears from the walls of the pot and the roots of the plant turn silver.

If your plant is planted in a transparent pot, you can do the same. But if your orchid grows in an ordinary pot, then just take a thin one wooden stick and carefully stick it into the ground. If after you take it out it is completely dry, then feel free to water the flower.

How to properly and often water an indoor orchid during flowering?



Watering an orchid during flowering

During flowering, an orchid requires more moisture than at rest, which is why during this period you will need to water it a little more often than usual. If your flower is indoors with normal humidity and a sufficient amount of light, then this will need to be done once every 3 days. But this does not mean that you will need to fill the roots with water.

The amount of water will depend on the condition of the soil. The drier it is, the more water you will need to use. If the orchid is in a room with high humidity and lack of sunlight, then watering can be more rare, even once every 5 days.

How to properly and often water an indoor orchid in winter and summer?

If you are growing indoor flowers This is not the first year, then you probably know that summer and winter watering are quite different. Since most plants seem to fall asleep as daylight hours decrease, they require much less moisture during this period.

An orchid is practically no different from other indoor flowers, so with the arrival of winter, all processes in its cells slow down. This means that from approximately the end of autumn to the beginning of spring, it needs to be watered once every 10-14 days. As for summer watering, this should be done at least once every 4 days.

How and when to water an orchid after purchase?



Watering orchids after purchase

In principle, watering an orchid after purchase is no different from standard soil moistening. If you create the same conditions for the flower as in the store, then you will need to water it only when the roots turn silver and the soil in the pot is completely dry. The only thing you should pay attention to is the quality of the water.

As a rule, in stores, plants are watered with water, which is softened by special means, so if you try to water your beauty tap water, then it’s likely she won’t like it. In view of this, it will be better if you water it with boiled (settled) or rain water for at least some time.

How and when to water an orchid after replanting?

Transplantation is quite stressful for the orchid, so for several days after this manipulation it needs to be provided with maximum peace. This means that it is undesirable to water it immediately after this procedure. Ideally, you should generally give it 4-5 days to adapt and only after that start watering.

If you see that the soil into which you need to replant the flower is very dry, then just fluff it up a little and spray it with a spray bottle. As for how to water an orchid, in this case it is best to use the method of watering from a tray. In this way, the plant itself will take the required amount of moisture, which will allow it to avoid rotting of the roots.

What is the best way to water orchids so that they always bloom?



Watering an orchid to produce flowers

Some gardeners complain that their orchids, when properly watered and the right amount the lights completely refuse to bloom. As a rule, the reason that buds do not form on plants is the banal lack of necessary substances in the soil. To get rid of this problem, you just need to buy fertilizer in a specialized store, add it to the water, and then perform standard watering.

As practice shows, approximately 10 days after fertilizing is applied to the soil, the orchid begins to throw out buds. But keep in mind that in order for your indoor plant It always bloomed magnificently; it must be fed with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. If you use nitrogen for these purposes, then, on the contrary, you will inhibit the formation of buds.

What is a good way to water orchids during budding?

If you want your orchid to bloom as long and beautifully as possible, then as soon as it starts throwing out arrows with buds, which will subsequently become bright colors, immediately start watering it with water containing phosphorus fertilizer. During the budding period, it is best to use it, as it stimulates the growth of buds and helps ensure that as many buds are formed on the arrow.

Moreover, this particular fertilizer can help you make the flower bloom again. If you try to spray dormant buds with it, they will definitely open after some time. But keep in mind that in order to achieve good flowering During this period, you need to water the orchid with warm water (at least + 35). It will warm the soil, creating a kind of tropical moisture, thereby promoting better flowering.

How to water an orchid to make it blue?



Blue orchid

I would immediately like to say that blue orchids do not exist in nature, and if the seller in the store claims the opposite, then he is simply deceiving you in order to sell his product. Usually white plants are made blue by simply watering them with water and a special dye. Unfortunately, when re-blooming such orchids bloom in their natural color or even die.

In case you want to have blue orchid, then try painting it yourself using a more gentle method. You can try watering your plant with water in which aluminum alum has been soaked. Since this material is of natural origin, its use will not harm orchids. This means that if you water your beauty correctly, you will be able to paint the buds without fear that she will die.

How to water an orchid so that it grows roots faster?

We already said above that the orchid does not like hard water, which contains many impurities. In view of this, if you want it to root as well as possible, then use rainwater for this purpose. If you do not have the opportunity to water with just such a liquid, then proceed as follows.

Take the water you have, boil it and let it sit. Carefully drain the top part and dilute it with distilled water in a 1:1 ratio. Water the orchid with the resulting liquid as we taught you at the very beginning of our article.

How to properly and often water an orchid with succinic acid?



Watering an orchid with succinic acid

Succinic acid is simply necessary for such a demanding flower as an orchid. It is this that helps its leaves remain elastic, and also helps the plant to more resistantly tolerate changes in humidity and temperature. In view of this, if you want your indoor plant to always look beautiful, then regularly add this substance to the soil. This can be done along with watering.

That is, first you will need to dissolve succinic acid in water, and then produce it in the standard way by watering the plants. If it turns out that you poured a lot of liquid into the pot, then be sure to wait until it runs into the pan and then drain it. Watering with succinic acid can only be done in spring and summer, when the flower is growing intensively. In winter, it is best not to use succinic acid as it will not allow the orchid to rest well.

How to properly and often water an orchid with garlic water?

Among beginning gardeners there is an opinion that garlic water is capable of simulating the growth and flowering of an orchid better than all other means. For this reason, they prepare it with great persistence and begin to water the flowers with it almost every day. And how surprised they are later when they begin to realize that their indoor beauty has begun to get sick. What is the reason? No matter how funny it may sound, but if you water the orchid very often garlic water, then oversaturate the soil with vitamins and minerals and, as a result, it will begin to suffer.

In view of this, it will be better if you alternate watering with garlic water with regular watering. If you do everything correctly, then literally in just two weeks the orchid will throw out a peduncle, and you will again enjoy its brightness and beauty.

How to properly and often water an orchid with Fitosporin?



Watering an orchid with Fitosporin

Phytosporin is universal remedy, which fights almost all diseases of orchids. In view of this, if you notice that your flower has begun to hurt, but you cannot determine what caused the problem, then try watering it with water in which this substance is dissolved.

Yes, and remember, to care for flowers, it is best to buy phytosporin in a solution that just needs to be added to water. Only in this case can you be sure that you haven’t overdone the dose, which means you definitely won’t harm the plant. After the solution is ready, you will need to add it to the soil, simply replacing standard watering with the resulting product.

As for the frequency of watering, it is worth considering why you are doing it. If you want to cure an orchid from a disease, then phytosporin will need to be applied every 10-14 days. If you plan to use it for preventive purposes, then this should be done no more than once every three months.

How to properly and often water an orchid with Epin?

Epin is nothing more than a growth regulator that helps reduce Negative influence environment per plant. And if you consider that an orchid living in an apartment is under stress all the time, then it must be treated with this product. And although most gardeners prefer to use this drug for spraying, it has the maximum effect on the plant through watering.

Therefore, you can safely dilute it in water for irrigation and carry out standard procedure moistening the substrate in the pot. But still remember that this remedy can also cause harm. If you use it very often, the orchid will grow roots and leaves, but you will not observe beautiful flowers. In view of this, do not use Epin more than once a month.

How to properly and often water an orchid with Fundazol?



Watering an orchid with Fundazol

Fundazol is one of those drugs that help indoor plants fight various diseases. But the best part is that you can use it both during intensive growth and during hibernation. In view of this, if you need to quickly rid your indoor flower, for example, of spotting, then you can safely dilute a small part of the powder in water, and then carry out standard watering.

Literally in a couple of hours active substances They will begin to eliminate the cause of the problem, and after another day it will stop spreading to healthy parts of the plant. In order to completely get rid of the disease, you will have to carry out similar watering 3 more times with an interval of 5 days.

How to properly water an orchid using the immersion method?

This method of watering is good because it can be used both for feeding and for simply moistening the substrate. But remember, in order for the plant to get the maximum benefit from such watering, it must be done with warm water. In this case, the plant will absorb moisture not only with its roots, but also with its leaves and flowers.

  • Prepare a container that will be a couple of centimeters lower than the orchid pot.
  • Pour it in warm water and lower the flower
  • Make sure that the very top of the pot is always slightly above the water level.
  • Let the plant stand in this position for 10-20 minutes.
  • Next, remove it from the water and place it in an empty bowl to drain all excess liquid.
  • As soon as this happens, return the flower to its usual place.

How many times a week should an orchid be watered?



Watering an orchid

If you were attentive, you probably realized that both underwatering and overwatering are dangerous for orchids, so you must monitor your beauty very carefully and water it only if it really needs it. As practice shows, in the spring-summer period, when the plant grows and blooms intensively, it needs more moisture than usual, so during this period it may require two full waterings per week.

But when the orchid fades and goes into so-called hibernation, it requires a minimum of moisture. For this reason, in the fall it should be watered only once a week, and in winter this procedure should be carried out no more than once every ten days.

Is it possible to water an orchid from above?

I would like to say right away that indoor orchids They tolerate top watering very poorly. As a rule, this is due to the fact that during its implementation, flower growers do not behave very carefully and life-giving moisture gets into the rosette of the plant, which subsequently leads to the flower being affected by putrefactive bacteria. But this does not mean that you cannot water the orchid from above.

You can do this quite calmly, just make sure that the water is evenly distributed throughout the soil and does not remain on the plant itself. After such watering, the flower must be thoroughly dried and try to remove all the moisture that has entered the axils of the leaves and the rosette. This can be done using an ordinary paper napkin or a cotton swab.

Is it possible to water orchids with ammonia, potassium permanganate, and yeast?



Watering an orchid with potassium permanganate

All of the above mentioned substances not only can, but also should be used to care for orchids. If used correctly, they can help you get rid of diseases, small pests, and also quite effectively stimulate flower growth and flowering. True, you must remember what to apply ammonia, yeast and potassium permanganate should be used as carefully as possible.

This means that you must prepare solutions for irrigation with a minimum concentration of these substances. If there are a lot of them, this can even lead to the death of the flower. Yes, and orchids should be treated with such solutions no more than once a week. This will be quite enough to get rid of problems without harming the plant even more.

Is it possible to water orchids with boiled water, from an aquarium, or hot water?

As for watering with boiled and aquarium water, it can be done in a standard way. As practice shows, such liquids when correct use have a more positive effect on the orchid than, for example, tap water. The only thing you must remember is that you should water only when the soil in the pot is completely devoid of moisture.

But as for hot watering, it should be done very rarely and strictly adhering to certain rules. Firstly, you must remember that the water you will use should not be hotter than 45 degrees. Secondly, you should water the plant with a watering can or take it to the bath and give it a hot shower. You will need to water the orchid hot water literally 5-7 seconds, and then it will need to be set aside and allowed to dry thoroughly.

How to properly water a baby orchid?



Watering baby orchids

Most people treat a baby orchid as they would any other young plant. They are trying to transplant it immediately into wet soil, and even pour water on top. As a rule, this behavior leads to the fact that it does not take root well and gets sick. If you want to avoid such problems, then after separating the baby from the adult orchid, transfer it to a slightly moistened substrate and let it stand in it for 2-3 days.

During this time, the wounds that formed during the separation process will heal, and you will be able to water the flower using the submersible method. After the first watering, you will need to monitor how the soil in the pot and the roots of the plant look. If you notice that the soil has become dry and the roots have begun to lose their green color, which means immediately repeat the watering procedures.

How to water a Phalaenopsis orchid correctly and often: watering features

The Phalaenopsis orchid, like other relatives, loves to be watered correctly. If she feels an excess or lack of moisture, this immediately affects her appearance. Usually its leaves are the first to react to this; they become lethargic, droop and, in some cases, become covered with light-colored spots.

  • Once a month, give the flower a hot shower, after which wipe all its leaves dry (dry in a place where there are no drafts)
  • Water the plant according to the time of year. In summer, water once every 2-5 days, in winter once every 2 weeks.
  • In order for the plant to have enough moisture in the air, place a bowl of ordinary water in close proximity to it.
  • Use filtered water for watering and additionally boiled water without any additives.
  • If you need to stimulate the growth of an orchid or the formation of its bud, then combine the application of nutrients at the root with spraying the upper part of the plant.

Video: How to water a home orchid?

Evgeniy Sedov

When hands grow out the right place, life is more fun :)

Mar 2 2017

Content

A very beautiful flower is the orchid, and many women collect entire collections of its varieties. Caring for him is not so easy: he is very demanding, so if you want to always watch beautiful buds as in the photo from plant catalogs, you should know many subtleties, including how to water phalaenopsis.

How to properly water an orchid at home

Depending on how much proper watering you provide for orchids, these plants will give you the joy of their beautiful inflorescences. The finicky roots do not like too much moisture, but are very sensitive to drought. The slightest delay - and you will lose the flower without a chance of recovery. A few recommendations about the frequency, time of watering and water quality can help you cope with this difficult task. Knowing the secrets of how often to water an orchid, you will help the plant grow and reproduce, decorating your home with delicate buds.

How often to water an orchid at home

Very often this beautiful flower begins to be loved and cared for too much, which often leads to its death. One of the main rules home care– do not flood the roots with water. Those who think that daily watering will be beneficial and the plant will delight again and again beautiful flowers, are deeply mistaken. How many times should you water an orchid? In winter, once a week is enough, and in summer, a couple of times in seven days. These numbers cannot be called accurate, since the conditions under which the flower is kept are always different, and you need to focus on them. In more humid climates, it needs to be moistened less frequently.

When to water an orchid

Define exact time Only the owner of the flower can water the orchid. You need to carefully examine the soil to see how dry it is. For this purpose, plants often buy transparent flowerpots so that you can clearly see the state of the substrate and understand when it has finally dried out after the last watering. This is very important: phalaenopsis does not like a lot of water. If your pot is opaque, you can check the soil by weight - the dried soil will become light. If we talk about the time of day for watering, then there is absolutely no difference.

What water to water an orchid

Another secret you need to know is what water to use to water your orchid at home. Never do this with hot, boiled or carbonated water. This indoor flower you need ordinary water at room temperature, which contains all the necessary natural minerals and useful material. The hardness of the water should be adjusted and if it is too hard, it is better to leave it for about a day, and the sediment does not need to be poured into the ground. Soft water can be used to moisturize almost immediately.

How to water phalaenopsis orchids at home

There are many ways to water a phalaenopsis orchid at home. You can choose one or use different options. The main thing is to follow the basic rules: do not flood, do not moisten too often and wait until the substrate dries thoroughly before watering. Another subtlety is that during flowering the indoor plant needs a different amount of humidity, so taking this into account is also important.

How to water an orchid during flowering

As soon as your flower begins to bloom and opens fresh buds, you need to water your orchids more frequently during flowering. The drying process accelerates at this time. When a warm period begins, it is better for the soil to be moistened 3-4 times a week, depending on the local climate (in a more humid climate, three times will be enough; in a dry climate, this will have to be done more often). In winter, the flower needs to be watered up to 2 times a week, but if central heating very strong, you will have to constantly monitor the condition of the soil.

During flowering, the soil should not dry out completely. The humidity level should be slightly higher than usual. Remember that air must penetrate well to the roots, so make sure that the substrate is not too dense, but lies with gaps. Utensils made from clear glass, through which you can easily monitor the condition of the soil.

How to water orchids in winter

Regardless of whether phalaenopsis blooms or not, watering orchids in winter differs significantly from summer. Both the temperature of the room and the quantity play a role here. sundial. Depending on these factors, the frequency of watering should be reduced or increased. On average, you need to water a houseplant in winter a maximum of once a week, sometimes once every two weeks. It is up to you to determine when to water your plant using the methods described above.

Methods of watering orchids

One can argue endlessly about how an orchid should be watered. Each owner of this noble plant has his own - as it suits you. Each of the methods that will be described below has its own disadvantages and advantages, so it is necessary to take them into account when choosing one method or another. The main watering options are surface, submersion, hot shower or using a tray. The final choice will depend only on you, because some of the methods require considerable time.

Surface watering

Agronomists often argue about whether it is possible to water an orchid from above. The answer is clear: yes. The flower treats surface watering very well; here it is only important to know when to stop. With a thin stream from a watering can we water not the flower, but the substrate in which it lives. The moisture gradually fills the pot and then evaporates over a few days. This is the simplest and quick way glaze.

Spraying the leaves can be done daily, preferably in the morning, so that all moisture from the surface evaporates during the day. Do not overdo it with such bathing, otherwise the leaves will become dull over time. It is also recommended to pour the soil from above very carefully, literally as much as necessary to moisten the entire substrate. The water in the container should not stagnate, so make sure it comes out through the hole at the bottom of the container.

Watering orchids by immersion

One common method of watering is to immerse the orchid in water for a few minutes. A huge advantage is that the soil will not take up more water than it needs, so the risk of the flower flooding is reduced, although in a humid environment this is still a possibility. After the pot has been lowered into water for 20-30 minutes and pulled out, it needs to stand on a wire rack for the excess liquid to drain off. If you water several times this way different plants, then the water needs to be changed after each.

Hot shower for orchids

For quick adaptation after transplantation for propagation or when changing location, a hot shower for a phalaenopsis orchid would be an ideal restoration. This procedure can be performed once every 10 days, then the flower can be moved to a new place for it. A warm shower helps the plant adapt faster to new conditions, and it also removes dust from the leaves well. For those who do not like to wipe each leaf separately, you can use this method.

During the procedure, it is important to monitor temperature conditions: the water temperature should not exceed 70 degrees, but not be less than 50. The optimal one is selected taking into account the substrate and the acidity that it provides to the plant. After bathing, you can leave the pots in the bathroom so that they can still soak in the warm steam. Here's another one unusual way, how to water an orchid and let it grow and multiply.

Watering an orchid in a tray

Another way is to water orchids in a tray. To do this, you need to select the size of the pallet according to your windowsill or shelf on which the flowers stand. All pots are placed directly into the container, and during watering you just need to pour water into it. The flowers themselves will drink as much as they need. This type of care is especially suitable for those who do not have time for time-consuming care. Water can be poured into the trays from a watering can or glass. The peculiarity is that you moisten all the plants in this container at once.

Video: Proper watering of orchids

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Inexperienced flower growers sometimes encounter this problem - the flowers and buds of the orchid wither and fall off, or the peduncle simply stops growing. To prevent this from happening, you need to know how to water an orchid during flowering.

Watering orchids during flowering is even more important than during other periods of their life. The formation and blooming of flowers requires a lot of effort, and its nutrition exotic flower receives only from water and air, and not from fertile soil, like the plants of our latitudes. Experts advise watering orchids at home when the substrate is completely dry and the roots turn white.

How often you will need to water depends on many reasons - air temperature, humidity level, degree of light, and the period of life of the plant. In addition, the rate of moisture absorption and assimilation by the plant differs depending on different varieties. There is no exact schedule; an attentive owner will determine it himself while caring for his pet. If this usually happens 1-2 times a week, then you will have to water the blooming orchid more often, maybe 3-4 times. Fertilizing plants with mineral fertilizers is usually combined with watering.

A warm shower is fine if the water coming from the tap is quite soft or if a watering can is used. The pot is placed in the bathtub, watered, bypassing the flowers, with water at a temperature of up to +40 degrees, then left until excess water will not drain from the pot. The axils of the leaves need to be blotted with a napkin, and the flower can be returned to its place only when the humidity and air temperature in the bathroom are equal to the conditions of the room.

Caring for Phalaenopsis during flowering room conditions involves all these types of watering, the main thing is that the water does not fall on the flowers and does not remain in the axils of the leaves.

Flowers growing on blocks are soaked by immersing the entire plant in water except the flowers themselves. After 15 minutes, remove the plant, shake it lightly, and blot the leaf axils. Hanging varieties water by immersing their roots in warm water for 15–20 minutes.

Spraying an orchid

When Phalaenopsis blooms, it can be sprayed to increase air humidity. If you water better in the morning, then spraying is usually done during the day. Water should also be used only clean, soft and warm, a couple of degrees warmer than the air. A sufficient level of humidity must be maintained around a blooming orchid; if the substrate does not dry out and the leaves are wet all the time, the flowering time will be sharply reduced - after all, orchids do not bloom in the tropics during the rainy season. Spraying should simply maintain the desired level of moisture in the air. Care must be reasonable.

It is better to use a fine spray nozzle, direct the water onto or around the leaves; moisture getting on the flowers contributes to their destruction.

What are the dangers of improper watering?

The orchid loves moisture, especially during the flowering period, but overmoistening the substrate can lead to rotting of the roots. If you water the plant while droplets of condensation are still collecting on the walls of the transparent pot, the substrate will become compacted, its ingredients will begin to rot, and this will lead to a deterioration in the condition of the roots, and therefore the entire plant. This should not be allowed, because the orchid will stop blooming and may even die if the moment of replanting, which is possible for salvation, is missed.

To insure against rotting of the substrate, it is recommended to sometimes water the plants with water with a small amount of potassium permanganate. But it is better to carefully check the condition of the substrate before each watering; its top layer dries out quickly enough, but at the bottom of the pot it may still remain wet, in which case it is better to wait until watering.

Preface

Orchid is very delicate flower, requiring increased attention from you. That is why you need to know how to water an orchid and provide it with proper care. Failure to follow the rules is the surest road to the death of an elegant flower.

Required Tools

Bucket

Often, when purchasing an orchid, we water the flower too much and too often, and then we wonder why the plant rots. One rule applies here - it is better to underfill the water than to overfill it. The basic law that applies to this flower is to water it when the soil is 100% dry, and root system will dry out.

There is an opinion that watering should be done strictly once every 7 days - this is completely wrong. The time it takes for the soil to dry directly depends on many factors, including air temperature and humidity levels, lighting in the apartment, and the size of the pot. By the way, many people are concerned about what kind of water to water an orchid, because it is both a source of nutrition for the flower and a method for regulating temperature.

In their normal environment, these flowers feed on rainwater, but even a child knows that rainwater in the city differs in characteristics from rainwater in tropical forests.

How to prepare water for plants?

To answer the question of how to properly water an orchid, first of all, you need to remember the rules for preparing water. After all, the life and growth of your beloved green pet will depend on its quality. So, water for a flower should be either soft or moderately hard. Checking the level of hardness using technological methods is a rather expensive procedure. However there is one home method: Hardness can be determined using regular teapot. The faster scale forms on the bottom, the harder the water level.

To reduce this indicator, you will need the usual oxalic acid, sold at any flower stalls. Take a 5 liter bucket, pour water into it, and pour half a spoonful of the product into it. The liquid must be infused for 24 hours, after which the water is carefully drained so as not to disturb the sediment from oxalic acid.

In order for orchids to develop normally, it is important to take into account the acidity of the water. Ph5 is considered the optimal level. If the indicator is below optimal, then it can be increased lemon juice- For liter bottle A few drops will suffice. No need to water the plants cold water– the ideal liquid temperature is approximately +35 °C. Having grown beautiful orchids, you can do such a pleasant procedure for every plant lover as.

How to care for and water an orchid: methods

There are several methods of watering a flower, each of which has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. To choose the most appropriate one, you should first familiarize yourself with each method, learning their main characteristics.

  • The most effective method is a hot shower, which almost exactly repeats natural conditions glaze. The experience of gardeners proves that this method allows the plant to grow green mass faster, the plant blooms more and more often. Regular showering will reduce the risk of pests and diseases. However, it is important to remember that the hot shower method is only suitable for those who have soft water coming from the tap. To use the method, place the flower pot in the bathroom, after which it is watered from the shower with a small stream of warm water. Watering time depends on how quickly the substrate gets wet. When the soil gets wet, leave the flower alone for 15-20 minutes - this will help the excess moisture leave. After about an hour, you can wipe the leaves and sprouts with a dry soft cloth, removing excess moisture.
  • Another method is immersion, when a flower pot is immersed in liquid. After you dip the plant, you need to let the water drain completely. Do not forget that this method is only suitable for absolutely healthy plants..
  • The third method is using a watering can. IN in this case Water from a watering can must be carefully poured over the surface of the soil, avoiding getting on the leaves and avoiding liquid getting into the growing points. You need to water until liquid begins to seep out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. After 5 minutes, repeat the procedure, making sure to drain all excess water.
  • If we are dealing with orchids that grow without soil, then spraying the root system is best for them. It is advisable to spray during the day so that the root system is dry by the evening. As you can see, in order for an orchid, the care and watering of which is quite labor-intensive work, to please with its beauty, it is necessary to follow all the above rules. Only in this case will this capricious and delicate flower live long.