ORCHIDS
Growing and Helpful Tips
Watering "THE MAIN KILLER OF ORCHIDS"
The bulk of orchids like to be moist but not sitting in water. Again what we do may need adjusting to your growing conditions. As we are harvesting/collecting 100% of all our own water used we do conserve water where possible. Things to remember when thinking about how and when to water this applies to all growing conditions whether your orchid is growing inside your home or in a tree outside.
No one's an expert they have just killed a few orchids before learning so learn from other grower's mistakes
"an expert is a drip under pressure, ex-spurt" (anyway)
"OK YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET YOUR THERMOMITOR AND NOTE BOOK OUT JUST LOOK AT WHATS AROUND YOU"
-
WHAT IS YOUR ORCHID/S POTTED IN (If in a tree/stump is it well drained etc...). Also the type of pot eg terracotta, plastic with holes at base only, plastic with holes in sides and base (these will dry out more quickly) A glass jar/vase with no holes. This is likely to be found with orchids sold as a gift line (these should be re-potted ASAP as your orchid has a good chance of rotting from being to wet). When buying an orchid have a good look, some gift line orchids may have been prettied up and could have 10mm of pebbles/chip/bark/glass what ever sells on top but underneath may be ok or just rubbish mix for your conditions. Dig your finger into your pots and see if its moist/wet/dry. Feel the weight of your pot, get to know your conditions even in covered areas when it rains go and have a look if rain is coming in on some plants and not others, you may have a tree over top that stops/reduces the rain fall you know what I mean take some time and look around. This is how everyone learns and sometimes you find flower spikes you didn't even know about.
-
Heat:- is it hot and dry or just hot (on the back of a neighbours tin wall that the sun hits)
-
Cold:- is it cold and wet (cold wet conditions are perfect conditions for a lot of fungal problems)
-
Wind:- it is good to have most types of orchids sheltered from wind (breeze is ok but may be cold at night in winter, Wet and cold?). Wind can dry pots/orchids out quite quickly in the heat of summer.
-
Shade:- is it full shade, afternoon sun or morning sun (in most cases in our local area good growing conditions are sun till 8-9am and dappled light after)
-
Sun:- Where we are located there is only a hand full of orchids and bromeliads that will grow well in full sun
-
Rain:- If we get 5-10mm or more this is counted as being watered for outside growing conditions under cover still needs water.
With these conditions in mind remember you can kill most orchids fairly quickly by over watering.
"My golden Rule:- if you can grow other plants well in pots or in the garden but have problems with orchids then its likely you are over watering".
Watering in Winter:- ALWAYS KEEP CONDITIONS IN MIND. We water approx every 10 days in the shade houses and undercover just a splash once a week. Now for indoor orchids these can be once a week or if this is you, A person that can not help them self, saying might give that a drink, use a misting squirt bottle and mist the leaves and any roots every 2nd-4th day approx 3-5 squirts NO MORE!! and water on the sink once a month.
Watering in Summer:- ALWAYS KEEP CONDITIONS IN MIND. We water approx 2 times a week in the shade houses and undercover just a splash every second day, for seedlings/tubes every day. Now for indoor orchids these can be 2 times a week or if this is you Again, one that can't help them self, give a drink using a misting squirt bottle and mist the leaves and any roots every 2nd day approx 3-5 squirts NO MORE!! and water on the sink once every 2 weeks.