How to water orchids in summer
For most women, knowledge about orchids, such as how to water orchids in summer, will be introduced by the editor [] next.
I. Learn from the successful experience of predecessors in the orchid cultivation community
1. Lao Bai: As orchid friends know, high humidity leads to a higher germination rate, and new grass grows faster. How to increase humidity without a humidifier platform? By watering more frequently.
2. Zhu Dayong: The humidity of the environment is very low, and items like water trays are not very effective. Keeping the roots healthy is fine even if the humidity is low.
3. Guan Qi: When growing orchids with granular substrates, it's better to keep them moist rather than dry. Especially in high-temperature seasons, I observed the rotten roots in transparent pots, the bottom of the pots were always wet, and the orchid roots grew well. Water when the surface of the pot is dry.
4. Wei Chang: To have good roots, light is indispensable. Light is the driving force for root development. The stronger the light, the more water is evaporated from the leaf surface, consuming more nutrients, which prompts root development to increase water and nutrient absorption, just like a person who exercises more needs to eat and drink more. As long as the nutrition is adequate, eating well, drinking well, and sleeping well make it hard not to be strong. Understanding this principle makes it easier to find the most suitable management method for one's own environment. If the fertilizer is too rich, please increase the light accordingly; if the substrate is fine and has strong water retention, also increase the light accordingly; conversely, if the substrate is coarse and less nutrient-rich, reduce the light and water accordingly; if the substrate is coarse and the environmental light is strong, increase the fertilization and watering, otherwise the orchid leaves may become thin and yellow due to excessive consumption...
Based on the valuable experience of all predecessors, the following conclusions can be drawn: When growing orchids on urban balconies, due to dry weather, more watering is needed in summer to increase environmental humidity and replenish the lost water of orchids, so that they can grow normally and sprout more. However, the premise of more watering is to keep the roots healthy. If the roots rot, they cannot absorb water, and watering more will not be useful. Therefore, it is necessary to decide how to fully supply water and fertilizer to orchids based on the type of orchid, the intensity of light, and the planting material, so that the orchids can grow vigorously.
II. In dry balconies in summer, if organic materials are used to grow orchids, it is necessary to disinfect regularly to prevent root rot, and it is not suitable to water in the middle of the day. Otherwise, the chance of root rot increases. Without regular pesticide disinfection, it's best not to use organic fertilizers, as organic fertilizers rely on bacterial decomposition and can easily cause double rot in high-temperature and humid environments. Using 20-30 "Haokangdu" granules per pot will not hurt the roots and leaves. The dilution rate of other chemical fertilizers for orchids depends on the humidity, temperature, and type of orchid. As long as there is no fertilizer burn and the orchids grow well, it is the correct fertilization method. Of course, observation with the eyes is also necessary. For example, if the new sprouts have not yet unfolded their leaves, observe the upper edge of the leaf sheath after fertilization. If there is a blackening phenomenon, it indicates that the fertilizer is too heavy, as this area easily accumulates water and fertilizer. After the water evaporates in a dry balcony, the fertilizer remains here, and high concentration can cause leaf sheath burn. Additionally, if the roots and root tips are brown or black, it is mostly due to excessive fertilizer or heavy use of fertilizers.
III. Whether to water at noon is not the key point. The key is whether orchids lack water on dry balconies in summer. If the orchids grow normally and there are no underdeveloped cases, there is no need to water at noon. For example, using a large pot, Mr. Zhu Chunyuan waters every two days in summer, and the orchids can grow two generations of sprouts in a year, showing good growth, so there is no need to water at noon. Therefore, if the new sprouts of orchids stop growing or the leaves twist and deform in summer, it is a sign of water deficiency. In this case, water at noon. If most of the new sprouts still do not grow after watering at noon, it can only prove one thing: your environment is not suitable for growing orchids. You either need to build a greenhouse or give up growing orchids, as watering at noon is the last resort for growing orchids on dry balconies. If this method does not work and the orchids still cannot grow normally, there are no other methods.
IV. The orchids I grow are Cattleya, with wide leaves and small roots, which prefer a shady and humid environment and are not very drought-tolerant. Therefore, watering at noon to replenish lost water results in better growth. However, some orchids have thin leaves and many roots and are more drought-tolerant, such as Cymbidium and Dendrobium, which do not need to be watered at noon as long as they grow normally.
V. As Mr. Zhu said, don't take medicine for a single symptom; you need to take the right medicine. Once the disease is cured, there is no need to keep taking medicine. Watering at noon is only a solution to the problem of orchids losing water in a dry environment in summer, which causes growth stagnation. After entering autumn, the temperature drops, and the demand for water in orchids decreases, so there is no need to water at noon. Reduce the supply of water gradually.
VI. In dry balconies in summer, sufficient water is the key to orchid growth. If no pesticide disinfection is used, inorganic substrates and chemical fertilizers should be used. If organic substrates and organic fertilizers are used, regular disinfection is necessary in summer. Of course, the temperature of the environment also has a significant impact. Therefore, there are no fixed methods for growing orchids; everyone should choose a method suitable for their environment. If the orchids can grow and bloom normally with few diseases, it is the correct way to grow orchids.
VII. In humid environments, orchids lose less water, so they should be watered when slightly dry. In dry environments with high temperatures, orchids lose a lot of water, so they should be watered when slightly wet, so that they can grow normally. In high-temperature and dry environments, if orchids are kept dry, they will not grow well due to water deficiency.
VIII. It is also not suitable to water at noon in humid environments, as the water in the sprout center takes a long time to dry, which can cause rot under high temperatures. It is more suitable to water in the evening when it is cooler. In dry environments, the water in the sprout center dries within 10 minutes after watering, so watering at noon should also consider environmental factors and not adhere to a fixed watering time.
The above experience and knowledge about how to water orchids in summer are shared. I hope this article can bring you some help!