Diving in a bath, watering with a shot glass or just spraying the leaves: Even experienced hobby gardeners make some mistakes when watering their orchids.
Watering orchids: The most common mistakes
Orchids are among the most beautiful houseplants. If cared for properly, they will thank you with delicate flowers that decorate the plant for months. This also includes regular watering. But opinions differ on this matter: should you give the exotic animal a dip or water it from above? Can you use tap water? Questions about questions. And of course, from time to time certain care mistakes occur to which the orchid reacts very sensitively.
1. Water the orchid with tap water – an absolute no-go
Wrong: tap water.It can damage the orchid. The chlorine content in drinking water is very low. Chlorine is only added for disinfection in exceptional cases and in such small quantities that it is not harmful to people or animals. But orchids can react sensitively to it. They also have difficulty tolerating hard water or water with a high salt content. In the best case scenario, the leaves will wilt; in the worst case scenario, the roots will burn and the plant will die.
Correct: rainwater or distilled water.
2. Soaking with mineral water: Not a good idea
Wrong: Weekly soak with mineral water.
If you want to water your orchids with mineral water, you should think again. Still mineral water in itself is not harmful to the plants - but if you don't overdo it. Mineral water often contains salts and calcium and, in large quantities, can damage the orchid. In addition, the fertilizer application must be corrected accordingly, otherwise over-fertilization will quickly occur.
Correct: Water with mineral water once a month during flowering.
3. The flower gets too much water
Wrong: Water the orchid once a week.Everyone knows the rule of thumb: orchids are only watered when the substrate dries slightly. But it is often difficult to estimate exactly whether and when the flower should be watered. Many people therefore prefer to simply water the orchid once a week - usually on the weekend. However, it is questionable whether and to what extent the exotic animal needs water at this time.
Correct: do a test regularlyand water the orchid only when necessary. Insert a pencil into the substrate, wait 15 seconds and remove it. If it is moist, you can wait to water it. However, if it is dry, you should water the orchid.
4. Watering orchids: The shot glass trick doesn't work!
Wrong: 60 ml of water per week is not enough!There is always speculation online that a shot glass full of water per week is enough for the orchids. Actually wrong, because the water requirement can vary greatly depending on the season, location and variety. In most cases, 60 ml is not enough and the orchid will dry out.
Correct: The flower needs to be planted once every 7 to 10 daysbe watered really well from below. It is important that the substrate gets really wet and the roots soak up. After watering, excess water should be removed or allowed to drain.
5. Diving overnight? Orchids don’t like that at all!
You come back tired after a long day at work, prepare dinner, relax briefly and recharge your batteries in front of the TV. And then you suddenly realize that the orchid needs to be watered. No sooner said than done! At 9 p.m. the plant is left in the sink overnight so that the roots can soak up. Sound familiar?
Wrong: Dive the orchid in the evening.Orchids are very sensitive to waterlogging and can wilt quickly. In the evening, the water absorbed is not passed on, but remains in the roots for hours. The result – wilted, yellow leaves and rotting roots. The plant slowly dies.
Correct:Only dip or water the orchids in the morning.Especially when divingIf the substrate gets really wet, you should be very careful. It's best to wait a few days and then dive on the weekend morning rather than after work.
6. Be careful not to water the orchids with ice cubes
Wrong: Watering with ice cubes is not a good idea.The trick that is repeatedly recommended online is very simple. You take a few ice cubes and place them in the root area. Ice melts and the orchid is supplied with water for a longer period of time. In theory it should work fine. In practice it quickly became clear that orchids do not like ice-cold water and that the sensitive roots quickly die.
Correct: Orchids can last two to three weekscan easily get along without water. Water them the day before and put some water in a baking tray. Place several stones in the baking tray; the water should almost cover them. Place the pot on the stones. As the water evaporates over the next few days, the orchid will benefit from the humidity.
