Watering orchids: how often and how to do it?

Orchids don't need a lot of water, but the watering should therefore be better dosed. This makes watering orchids a real art.

orchids (Orchidaceae) are enjoying increasing popularity in Germany and can now be found in almost every household. Anyone who has had an orchid for a long time knows that correct watering is the key to plant health. We show how often and how you should water your orchid so that it continues to bloom vigorously and live a long time.

Water orchids properly: how often?

Orchids are among the most demanding houseplants, which normally grow epiphytically. Due to this botanical peculiarity, they are equipped with so-called aerial roots and do not need a lot of water because they are not directly in the ground. It therefore applies to the care of orchids: It is better to water less than more. Depending on the watering method, watering once a week is sufficient. When it is hot in summer, it can be watered twice a week. It is also a good idea to spray the plant with a spray bottle from time to time. The orchids on the market are mostly species of tropical origin and enjoy high humidity.

A little hint: A transparent planter is always ideal as a pot for the orchid. In this way you can quickly check whether too much has been watered, since root rot can occur in a shorter time. In this case, remove the affected part directly at the root.

Water or dip orchids?

When watering orchids, it has proven useful not to water the plant directly, but to water it by immersing it in a water bath. In this way you avoid waterlogging, which leads to rot in the immediate future. When diving the orchid, be sure to use only soft water with little lime. Simple rainwater, for example, is ideal for this purpose. To immerse the plant properly, you can either take the orchid out of the pot and immerse it in a water bath for a few minutes or, if there are enough holes, simply immerse it with the pot. Just make sure to pour off all the water afterwards.

Water orchids and fertilize at the same time?

Since orchid fertilizer is usually available in liquid form, it makes sense to combine watering and fertilizing orchids. This saves you the additional work step. You can easily add the fertilizer to the irrigation water when you dip the roots every week, so that the plant can absorb all the nutrients directly. Be sure to pay attention to the dosage recommendation, as some fertilizers may only be applied every two weeks and the amount of fertilizer should therefore be halved. Further information on fertilizing orchids can be found here here.

We recommend the following products for magnificent orchids:

• Floragard orchid soil: peat-free Special soil for the special requirements of your indoor orchids. Pine bark and coconut chips ensure a light and airy structure. Premium fertilizers such as guano ensure strong and vital plants.
• Cuxin liquid fertilizer for orchids: The special fertilizer for orchids contains many organic nutrients for lush flowering. Iron chelate ensures deep green leaves.
• Cuxin Foliar Care Spray: Care spray for orchids based on an ionic wetting agent. The trace elements it contains balance the moisture balance of orchids in a dry environment and thus ensure fresh green leaves and a high flowering rate.