Hi Roger, your ansver is very accurate :) If my friend asked me how to water, I would just start with something basic - not to scare off right at the beginning. 90% of the time people use word "orchid" for flowershop phalenopsis. Usually it isn't novelty hybrid, so my answer would be "whenever its dry". The follow-up would be "look at the roots - when they are silvery and not bright green in any way, water them. If they have wrinkles, you waited too long". Because of the nonsense with photosynthetizing roots they usually come in clear plastic pots, which are great for beginners. The trouble is that you can't instruct them about light, temperature (location), fertilizing, repotting. Or "sterilise your scissors". Once I suggested to cut off the flower spikes, because of coming vegetative season. That was one mad look: "never cut the flower spikes, everyone knows that". Then she returned to ice cubes and magical cheap fertilizer from banana peels.
Thank you Roger for this guidance on watering. This is the most confusing part of this hobby to me. I have killed probably seven cattleyas over the years due to overwatering. Your guidance to me was very clear and I am trying to do better with watering. Take care and have a great weekend. Happy growing from Kentucky, James
V good advice indeed. Watering orchids is more confusing than rocket science! I've killed a lot, learnt a little. But today, I learnt to think (and observe my orchids). No more blanket treatment 😅. Thanks, Roger! And sorry about your back. Hope it heals fast and you are pain free.
I’m retired so have the time to check on my orchid collection every day. I lift a couple of pots to feel the weight & if very light I know that size pot needs watering. If cold weather they may only get a drizzle of water. In Spring & Summer they get doused in water a couple of times. If in doubt I use a wooden pencil to poke down in the pot to see if it’s damp.
Good advice Roger. I mist my orchids in-between watering, the leaves and roots, it cuts down on how much water they are sat in in a pot. I use rain water, not tap water. Or the or the orchid mist that you can buy in the shops.
Hi, Roger! Thank you for this excellent and very informative video! I guess I have a system of sorts to decide what plants get watered. It depends on who is doing what and who is outside/inside and the weather, plus looking at the pot😅 Happy growing!🌸 PS: Please do take care! And enjoy the weekend with Hannah!
Go outside on a rainy day in summer and find a tree that has mosses growing on it. Study how the tree bark and mosses will absorb the rain, and touch the mosses and bark. It's not soaking wet, but just moist so that your hand will feel moisture, but as your remove your hand, it won't be wet. And Roger you'll be surprised that high humidity still makes mounts dry out. I got mine in 80% humidity here in Japan with temperatures about 20℃ because of the grey clouds blocking the 30℃ sunrays. Once the humidity clears on a given day and clouds reduce, the temperature shoots up to 32℃ and humidity is about 50%. Then we need to keep the orchids under 70% shade cloth or hang them under trees to keep the harsh sun off them. In mountains areas not even that far from where I live the native dendrobiums and vandas are almost always in a hazy mist of foggy humidity and cool.
Good video . I learnt finally that summer time my orchids need much more water . I l8ve in subtropical . Then hart to stop watering in winter too much . 😅😢 confused
Awesome video Roger! Here’s a crazy question. Is it better to let your phal orchid dry out a day or 2 or water at night, if that’s all u can do? Planted in volcanic rock.
Water left in leaf joints and crowns can cause problems overnight - but as I said, if the plant itself is kept dry it will be fine. (After all, in the wild I'm sure it rains at night sometimes?)
