The best way to water an orchid is not to simply pour water into the top of its pot, but rather to give it a weekly plunge into water. Then lift up the pot and let any excess water drain out through the holes in the bottom of the pot. Once it's well drained, place it on a saucer of gravel.
Room temperature water is best, but you can water your orchid with ice cubes without harming the plant. About once a week, place up to three ice cubes on top of the potting medium, preferably where the cubes don't touch the leaves. As the ice melts, it provides enough moisture to keep your orchid thriving.
In general, water once a week during the winter and twice a week when the weather turns warm and dry. The size of your orchid container also helps determine how often you need to water, regardless of climate conditions. Typically, a 6-inch pot needs water every 7 days and a 4-inch pot needs water every 5 to 6 days.
There are at least two ways to water orchids that are potted in a bark-based potting medium, watering from below and watering from above. No matter which way you water–from below or above–if you pot in bark, be sure that when you water, water copiously.
Water Weekly
Just because your orchid no longer has its blooms doesn't mean you should stop watering it. Continue to water your orchid with three ice cubes (one ice cube for orchid minis) on the usual day each week.
Orchids require enough sunlight to produce flowers, but some require full sun for the whole day while others grow better only in the shade. Most orchids fall somewhere in the middle – requiring indirect sunlight or dappled light.
You should only be watering every week or two. Pour water into the vase; let it stand for a few minutes, then pour the water off completely. When the phal has finished blooming, you might want to repot it. Don't cut off the flower stalk unless it turns brown and dies.
Common Orchid Watering Mistakes
Watering too often: Orchid plants should never be allowed to sit in still water. In many cases, the plant should completely dry between waterings. Watering at night: No matter what kind of orchid you grow, always water in the morning.
Yes! Orchids generally love humid conditions because they're a tropical plant. The easiest way to recreate their humid home is by misting them with a spray bottle.
If it is planted in a wood chip medium, the pot will need to be watered more often, as the wood chips dry out relatively quickly. As a general rule, once a week is often good enough, but if the humidity is low where the orchid is located, more frequent watering may be needed.
An east or south facing window provides bright enough light for growing orchids. South and east-facing windows work best for orchids. West_windows can be too hot in the afternoon and north-facing ones are usually too dark.
Morning sun is usually best; most need protection from direct midday sun and hot afternoon sun. These include Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Laelias, and Oncidiums. Orchids that grow at the tops of trees and in other exposed conditions can handle full sun.
Your orchid's flowers are likely falling off because the plant is finished blooming. The orchid is about to enter a hibernation period where it will rest before blooming again. Other reasons for flowers dropping include overwatering, underwatering, lack of sunlight, and too much sun.
As a general rule, fertilize orchids every 2 weeks during peak growth (spring and summer) and once a month during dormancy (fall and winter). Use a 30-10-10 fertilizer or orchid food, diluted to half strength. Approaching bloom, play it safe with a balanced fertilizer, such as 20-20-20.
Soak for about 10 minutes to saturate. Allow the water to drain out completely; orchids like a good soak but don't tolerate sitting in water. Uneven watering will result in shallow or uneven root growth.
You could start by soaking your orchid during the day, and drying the roots completely overnight (in a dry pot). Be sure to use fresh water every day — or at least, every other day — to reduce bacteria. And, remember to wash your orchid pot with mild dish soap before you add fresh water.
A little care will help you keep your orchids safe while exposing them to the rain. While most of your orchids will thrive in the rain, you may face issues in some orchids based on their health. You need to watch over them with a keen eye, for any signs of susceptibility.
It may be tempting to cut off aerial roots because they don't fit into our idea of what a beautiful orchid should look like. Resist. Aerial roots perform important functions for the orchid. Like the leaves and stems, aerial roots aid in photosynthesis.
Most orchids require a 4, 5 or 6 inch pot. There are seedlings and miniatures that require smaller pots, older specimen plants and some genera (Cymbidium, Phaius, large Cattleya...) that often require 8 inch pots or bigger but the majority of orchids sold in groceries, box stores, florists and the like are not these.