How Seasonal Condidtions Affect Orchid Watering

Watering orchids is one of the basic tasks of the orchid grower. Not any water will do though and the amount of water is just as important as the quality of water especially during the different seasons.

When you begin wondering why your orchid is starting to droop and doesn't produce any blooms it may be time to examine the water you use and how you are applying it to the plant.

This may give you an idea about why your orchid is not producing the way it should. Most orchid growers know that overwatering orchids is a mortal sin. It will surely cause root rot and ultimtely destroy your precious blooms. When problems arise you may first check the potting material to see if it has enough moisture. You may even purchase water meters that stick into the potting medium to scientifically check the amount of water in the pot. Everything seems to be fine so you scratch your head and wonder what you are doing wrong.

Orchids normally come from tropical climates where the temperatures are usually quite constant all year round, however, some orchids live in cool places. It's important, therefore, that you are familiar with the kind of environment your plant came from so that watering orchids will help in allowing your orchid adapt to the surroundings in your home.

If you live in a climate which is similar to the indigenous climate of your orchid then you won't need to make a lot of adjustments in order for your orchid to feel right at home. Orchid plants are quite hardy and are able to adapt to their surroundings. It is, nevertheless, frustrating when your plant only wants to grow and reproduce but doesn't produce the blooms you're expecting. After all, the blooms are what it's all about.

Most people don't consider the temperature of the water they are giving to their plants. A basic rule states that using cold water on your plant will most likely kill it. But what if your orchid came from a cold environment and you live in a warm, arid climate? Some people recommend putting ice in the pot to help your plant cope. A word of warning if you are planning to try this; your orchid may suffer from this experiment and if you plan to try it on a particularly expensive specie then beware. Usually a plant has to be watered with lukewarm water. If you are using rainwater as your source it's a good idea to let it stand for one or two days so it can reach room temperature.

During winter, plants are usually in a resting state. This means that you need to water them less often. Your artificial lights will play a great role in keeping the plants warm. So, can you give hot water to your plants at this time? Probably not, unless you want your plant to die before spring comes. The safest method is to use tepid water. Unless your home has low humidity, you will only need to water once every two weeks observing the usual water protocols of not wetting the leaves or letting them sit in water for any extended period of time. Cold damage can result if you aren't careful. Accidentally leaving your orchid cool water or forgetting to dry off the leaves can cause damage to your plant. All in all you just need to give the plant what it wants