How often to water the Phalaenopsis orchid at home: why do you need to observe the moisture regime of the plant and in what ways do you need to do this?

Any plant at home needs careful care, but the Phalaenopsis orchid is very picky in this matter. The process of watering it seems not at all complicated, but this is far from the case.

Caring for this flower has its own characteristics. Why it is so important to water the phalaenopsis with the correct frequency, what will happen if we do not follow the watering regime, how and what should be watered, we will understand this article. It will also be useful to watch an interesting video on this topic.

Why is it important to abide by the regimen?

Each type of plant has its own individual need for watering and phalaenopsis is no exception. If watering is insufficient, then the flower will begin to “starve”, a lack of nutrients will lead to the death of leaves, stem, and in severe cases and parts of the root, which entails the death of the plant.

ATTENTION: If watering is excessive, then increased moisture will cause the appearance of uninvited neighbors: fungal and bacterial diseases, pests.

We talked more about how and what to water Phalaenopsis during flowering and after transplantation in a separate article.

What does it depend on?

By soil type. Different soils absorb moisture in different ways, for example, sand absorbs water very quickly, but is not able to hold it, unlike clay soils, which absorb water poorly, but hold it for a long time (which is part of the soil for phalaenopsis orchids and how to make the substrate for growing the plant yourself, read here)
From environmental humidity. The greater the humidity of the environment, the less watering the plant requires.
From the temperature inside. The higher the temperature, the more moisture the flower needs.
From time of year and daylight hours. In summer, watering should be more frequent and intense than in winter.
From the size of the plant. The larger the plant, the more water it absorbs.
Pot size. Too small a pot may not fit the amount of water needed to feed the phalaenopsis. In a pot that is too large, the water may “get lost” along the path to the root and not reach enough for the plant (how to choose the right pot for phalaenopsis, read here).
From the age of the plant. During the growing period, the need for water increases.

How to determine that a plant needs moisture?

Use your own finger. Dig out the ground lightly by 1-2 cm and insert your finger to a depth of 4-5 cm. If the ground is wet, then you can wait with watering, if the finger remains dry, then it's time to act.
Wooden stick. If you don’t really want to get your hands dirty, and you need to check the flower, then a small thin wooden stick will help you out. Instead, you can successfully use a regular pencil or toothpick. The principle is exactly the same as with a finger.
Rhizome color. If the color of the root peering through the ground can be called gray, then watering should not be put off.
Pot weight. In my opinion, the most unreliable method, but it is often used by experienced gardeners, so we will also get to know him. After thoroughly watering the phalaenopsis, take the pot in your hands and remember its approximate weight. The next time before watering, again take the pot in your hands and offhand determine how much the weight that you have in your hands differs from the weight of a pot with a freshly watered plant. Very different? So it's time to water.

How many times do you need to water?

Water Phalaenopsis is necessary as soon as you notice the above signs. On average, in summer it is worth watering 2-3 times a week, in spring and autumn 1 time per week, in winter 1 time in 2 weeks.

With too frequent watering, the orchid does not have time to completely consume the entire volume of water, as a result, the earth is constantly wet and the roots begin to rot. If most of the root system undergoes decay, the absorption of nutrients will cease and the plant will die.

If the watering is too rare, the flower does not have enough moisture and in order to survive, he begins to sacrifice his most "unimportant" parts. First, the flowers fall, then the old leaves, then the younger leaves and, finally, the stem. The orchid is deprived of the opportunity to photosynthesize with its green part, therefore, does not receive organic substances and dies.

Water requirements

TIP: Watering simply with tap water is not recommended, as such water is too hard for the orchid. To reduce the hardness of the water, a little oxalic acid can be added to it at the rate of 1/4 teaspoon per 10 liters of water.

You can also use:

distilled water;
boiled water;
running water, however, it must be allowed to settle for a day.

Soil irrigation methods

Watering from a watering can with a small stream very close to the roottrying not to fall on the leaves and buds. It is worth watering until the first drops of liquid are in the pan. Then watering must be stopped. Drain the remaining water in the pot into the pan.
Dive Watering. Suitable for phalaenopsis during the flowering period, this method can also be used if your plant lives in a hanging basket. The basket is immersed in water for 30 seconds, then taken out.
Shower watering. The plant can be watered with a shower. The pressure of the water in the shower should be minimal, the temperature of the water should be at room temperature. Water for a few minutes. Water flushes dust and various pests from the surface of the leaves and stem. This procedure cleans the leaves and stem of the flower well, however, it can be used no more often 2-3 times a month.

Periods of increased frequency of the procedure

There are periods when an orchid needs more frequent watering. Consider them:

Ambient temperature rise. In hot climates, the plant releases more moisture and consumes more of it.
Excess sunshine. An orchid located on the window of the sunny side of the house requires more watering than a similar orchid located in the shade.
Flowering period. During flowering, the plant spends a lot of juices on the formation of flowers, the allocation of nectar, which attracts pollinators, and, of course, needs increased nutrition.
Low humidity. In a dry climate with air humidity less than 50%, phalaenopsis requires frequent watering.
Large plant size. The larger the orchid, the greater the amount of nutrients and water it consumes.

Useful video

Watch the video about the methods and rules for watering Phalaenopsis orchids:

Conclusion

Watering the Phalaenopsis orchid is a very time-consuming and time-consuming task. It is impossible to blindly rely on instructions and water the plant 1-2 times a week, since the amount of watering depends on many factors and is individual for each orchid.

You should take into account the time of year, light, humidity, temperature, size of the plant and pot and much more, however, those who have patience and cope with all the difficulties will receive a gift in the form of a beautiful flower that will decorate your house for a long time.