What Is An Orchid?
Orchids – the plant family Orchidaceae – are among the most diverse groups of plants, with over 1,000 genera and at least 25,000 species. Indeed, the Orchidaceae is probably the largest family of flowering plants (it vies for the title with the daisy family, the Asteraceae). The family derives its name from the Greek orchis, meaning ‘testicle’, a reference to the appearance of the underground tubers of some species. The term orchis was first used by Theophrastus (c. 370–285 BC) in his Natural History of Plants; he was a student of Aristotle and is considered to be the ‘father’ of botany.
Most people would recognise an orchid, even those without any particular interest in botany or gardening – at least the gaudy, hot-house hybrids and some of the more colourful wild orchids.
Watering Orchids
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| To give your orchid a good watering, bring it to a deep sink, shower, or tub |
To give your orchid a good watering, bring it to a deep sink, shower, or tub—any area big enough where you can water the entire plant. Make sure the water is at room temperature. Use a spray head if possible, making sure the water pressure is not so high that it knocks the potting media out of the pot. Profusely water the orchid bulbs, the top and bottom of the leaves, and the pot, checking the bottom of the pot to make sure the pot is draining. I do not generally water the flowers, as this can cause spotting on some orchids if there is not adequate air circulation for it to evaporate quickly. Regularly rinsing the plant in this way keeps pests like mites away and makes your orchid happy.
After a thorough watering, allow the plant to drain for a few minutes. If your air circulation is poor, make sure no water has collected on the leaves or in the crown, where the new leaves are emerging out of the orchid, as this can rot new growth or create black rot spots on the leaves. Tilting your orchid on its side and allowing the water to drain out, or blowing into the crown to drive the water out are good after-watering habits to avoid water collecting on or in the orchids. If there is still water on the orchid, wipe the orchid off with a soft cotton cloth.
It’s true that watering a display orchid can be a hassle, as you must first move the orchid to where you are watering, then remove any moss used for topping and remove the orchid from its cachepot before watering. Then you must allow time for the water to drain after watering, and finally you have to replace everything. But it’s worth it to go to the trouble (especially if you water just once a week), as this is by far the best way to keep your orchid hydrated and healthy.
Watering Orchids In Plastic Pots Planted With Sphagnum Moss
It is important to know that when orchids are planted with sphagnum moss in plastic pots, the moss dries out from the bottom up! This is odd but true, and the old orchid myth of never watering an orchid when it is wet can get you in trouble here, as the top of the pot can be wet, but the bottom dry. Do not let this fool you, and always check the weight of the pot to be sure it is heavy with water.
Misting
Unless you are growing mounted small hanging orchids, I do not recommend misting as your primary watering mode as misters do not deliver enough water to drench a plant. Using a hand mister periodically does supplement the relative humidity, and the orchids love the extra water. But misting should only be done in the early morning or late in the day and never when there is sunlight on the leaves, because tiny water drops can act as a magnifying lens for sun rays and burn and spot your orchid. And be sure to blow or shake any excess water off the flowers after misting.
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| Never use cold or hot water to water your orchids |
Watering Tricks
Do not water your plants with water you wouldn’t drink yourself. If your water quality is poor, consider a purification system for both you and your orchids. I was at a home once where they had a beautiful purification system for their orchids, but used water that smelled like burnt matches straight from the tap for themselves. I drank the orchid water.
Never use cold or hot water to water your orchids. Orchid cells close when cold, thus the roots do not efficiently absorb cold water, and hot water damages them. Keep the water at room temperature; that is, tepid, or lukewarm.
Fertilizing
For some reason, fertilizing is a hard first step for some beginners to take. The process is an easy one if you just follow directions on the orchid fertilizer you purchase, so do not be shy. Your orchid is waiting, and it is hungry.
There are many different opinions among orchid growers about how often and what to use to fertilize orchids. Over the years I tried many different ways of fertilizing my orchids: with every watering, once a week, once every two weeks, or once a month, and with all kinds of different fertilizers. The most important thing I have learned is that for an orchid to grow well it must be fed.
REFERENCES:
Watering Orchids By Growing Wisdom (Youtube Video)
Watering Orchids, The Spruce.
How Do I Water My Orchid, AOS Org.
Watering Your Orchid, Beautiful Orchids.
