Here
is just an example of Part 12a of the 12 Part mini
course on “Insider’s Secrets on Growing and Caring for
Orchids Like a Pro”.
Water
Control For Orchids
It has been said that correct watering is
the single most
important factor in the care of your orchids. How you go about watering
orchids
is quite different from how you water the rest of your houseplants, and
the
effects of over or under watering can be very serious. As with all
aspects of
orchid culture, it is worth spending some time to discover the exact
requirements of each of your orchid species, but we can group orchids
into
three broad groups according to their different watering needs.
Low
Including Brassolaeliocattleyas, Cattleyas,
Laeliocattleyas,
Miltonias, Odontoglossums
and Oncidiums.
These are epiphytic or
tree dwelling orchids that are used to having their roots exposed to
the air,
so it is important to let these roots dry out between waterings. Always
err on
the side of underwatering with epiphytic orchids.
Moderate
Some epiphytes such as Phalaenopsis and
Vandas do not have
the pseudobulbs that allow most tree-dwelling orchids to store their
own water
supplies. These species require watering slightly more frequently than
the
group above, and should never be allowed to dry out for more than a day
or two
at a time.
High
Terrestrial or semi-terrestrial orchids such
as Haemerias
and Paphiopedilums are typically grown in mediums that hold much more
water
than the barks and minerals often used for other species. These orchids
can
tolerate damp roots for several days and so can be watered quite
infrequently.
P.O.
Box 1264, Parramatta NSW 2124, Sydney, Australia
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