Watering Your Orchids
Once you get the hang of it you will be a pro at watering. Most orchid plants are epiphytes (air plants) and we are used to watering plants in soil. Air plants have pseudo pods, which take up the water and hold it for the plants to drink. The root system looks dry but may not be. If there is enough water you will notice the roots have plumb looking parts which are the pseudo pods.
Here are some guidelines that you can use for watering:
water more often if water less often if
there is more light there is less light
temperatures are higher temperatures are lower
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humidity is lower humidity is higher
there is more air movement less air movement
plant has thin leaves and growth plant has thick leaves and growth
it is mounted on a slab or in a basket it is in a pot
Over watering is the most common mistake of beginners. The plant shows water which may e covering the root system. If this occurs it means the roots are not getting the oxygen it needs and may go on to die. You will also notice some of the leaves may be turning yellow and drop off (also a sign of under watering). The pseudo pods will have furrows which run the length of them. The leaves will become thinner, won't fully expand and will wilt.
Under watering is usually the case if the plant is in a direct sun for long periods of time. Some of us will only mist the plant instead of watering. The signs of under watering are essentially the same as over watering. The thinner leaves of the plants especially Miltonias will have accordion like leaves.
The treatment for over watering is to re pot as soon as possible. As re potting is taking place cut off the roots that do not look healthy. Re pot in a coarser medium. This will allow the plant to get the support it needs. Be sure that the plant dries out before being watered next.
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Occasionally you plant may not have any viable roots and may not respond to re potting. If this is the case then I would recommend that you place the plant and container in a clear plastic bag and loosely tie it and place it in indirect light. The humidity will help.
Occasionally with over watering you will notice that the roots and then the rest of the plant may turn black. This is "black root" disease. Use a fungicide on this and probably you can save it.
For under watering the main stay of treatment is to water more frequently. If the plant feels loose in the pot then re pot it. Once you do this you will notice that there will be less wilting and greener healthier leaves. If there is still some wilting the plant will need more humidity. This can be accomplished by placing the plant on a tray that has pebbles in it and is half full of water. Remember you do not want the roots to sit in water.
About the Author:
Bob Roy is Owner and President of several websites, orchids-plus-more com and physician-on-health com. A physician by training and website entrepreneur by avocation.
