I’ve seen a lot of posts asking about watering orchids. Which got me curious - how do you water your orchids? What’s your method? How often? What are the triggers to water? What kind of water? Any suggestions for people wanting or just starting to dip their toes into the waters of orchid tending?
Mine are in bark and moss mix in a clear plastic pot with many fenestrations. I water when the pot is light (ie mix is dry) by soaking the whole pot in water for 10-15 minutes. It turns out to be about once a week but sometimes a bit less frequently. I use tap water and our water is very hard. I know many use distilled bc orchids are sensitive to salt in water. Mine definitely have just a little bit of burns on the roots from this, but they grow new roots, leaves, and flowers beautifully so I stuck with what is easy for me.
1 like Hi Nina! My process is similar to yours, right down to the hard water. Do you flush your media to help with salt buildup?
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I soak mine as well. I use distilled water though. I use pots with holes for orchids. I stick my finger in one of the bottom holes and check to water.
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I use clear plastic orchid pots and drench from the top with tap water until roots are green. I water every week or so depending on the location and color of the roots. I use Alaska fish fertilizer on all my plants and they seem to love it. My orchid mix is a repotme orchid bark mix. Too many plants to use distilled water but just put in a rain barrel so I plan on using that for all my plants now. Hoping it goes well.
2 likes Thanks! Do you have any issue with smell from the fish emulsion?
0 likes I don’t. I can smell it when I’m applying it but it’s not bad. Directly after application if you put your nose to the pot, you’ll smell it but it fades away fairly quickly, and certainly doesn’t make the house stink.
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