Watering Phalaenopsis Orchids
Some watering tips to help beginners with orchid baskets
Watering your beautiful orchid
When to water orchids
Orchids will tell you when they’re thirsty in a few ways: their roots will turn silvery and shrivel or their leaves will wrinkle. Once watered, roots turn a vibrant green and leaves will stiffen.
Before watering
Roots are silvery and skinny. The substrate is crunchy and dry.
After watering
Roots are green and plump. The substrate is moist and squishy.
helping your orchid drink
How to water orchids
There are many ways to water, including self watering pots, sprinkler systems, and rain. But we are going to discuss two simple options that have made all my orchids bloom repeatedly.
Showering your orchid
Shower your orchid’s roots and substrate with a hose attachment, careful to avoid the crown (the middle part where all the leaves attach and overlap) because moisture can cause rot between these leaves. Run water through the plant two or three times to wash out any buildup from fertilizer.
Soaking your orchid
Another option is to soak orchids in water for 10-15 minutes in a deep container. Make sure the water is not deep enough to reach the crown of the orchid. Sometimes very thirsty orchids can be left for hours or even overnight to rehydrate.
Fertilizing
After your orchid’s substrate is fully moistened, apply some orchid fertilizer. Dilute fertilizer by half or less, and fertilize almost every watering if desired. Fertilizer can be skipped every fourth or fifth watering.
I personally use a cheaper fertilizer, Better-Gro Orchid Better-Bloom Fertilizer 11-35-15, and have had success with multiple blooms a year.
Forgetting your orchid
Sometimes orchids get forgotten and that’s perfectly fine. They can go without water for a few weeks or more. They’ll just be dehydrated and wrinkly but most recover quickly without issues. Keep in mind that it is always better to underwater than overwater.
