3 pages

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Watering tips

cattleya - Bribie Island Orchid Society

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3 pages

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Do you know how much water your orchids need? Here are some useful tips on watering. Download it: it's free.

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Orchids

Orchidaceae

Arrosage

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Île Bribie

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Publié par	cattleya
Publié le	10 août 2011
Nombre de lectures	163
Langue	English

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- 1 -

Watering Tips

Watering is one of the most important aspects of the care of orchids. Although

plants may be grown quite successfully under a wide variety of conditions, in

many types of mediums, in a glass-house, shade-house or on verandahs,

they will not flourish unless the grower understands how and when to water

them correctly. This is just a matter of following a few simple rules.

It is a wide spread belief that only slightly acid or rain water should be used for orchids.

This is not so. Flourishing orchids can be produced even with water which is sufficiently

alkaline to change pink litmus paper slightly blue. Water which is very alkaline may be

neutralised and even brought to an acid condition by the addition of dilute hydrochloric acid,

which has no effect on plant tissues of the plant.

Bore water is not suitable for the orchids themselves, but growers in outlying areas should not

over look the fact that when water is scarce, precious tank water may be saved by the use of

bore water for damping down. It is not therefore the water itself which may retard the

development of the plants, but the method of applying it.

It is clear that there can be only three degrees of watering:

(1) Too little

(2) Too much

(3) The Right Amount.

Both the first and second will, of course, be damaging to the plants.

But the question which springs to mind is: How is the grower to

know whether their plants are receiving an adequate or over supply

of water? The answer is that the plants themselves will tell you. It is

a matter of knowing what signs to look for.

Underwatering

Look at the leaves of the plant, if they are dark green in colour, dull looking and with the

bottom leaves drying and dropping off’ then the plants have been receiving too little water.

They will be weak and incapable of flowering. This condition is readily seen and easily detected.

Overwatering

This is the usual fault among growers who deluge their plants with water feeling neglectful if

they allow them to dry out at all, and who unwittingly do their plants considerable harm. Apart

from too frequent watering, other causes of excessive moisture may be bad drainage, heavy

soil or insufficient air circulation around the pots.

Black Spot and Bacterial Disease

Caused by Excessive Moisture

Once again, the leaves will give an indication of the trouble. Continued dampness in the pot

will break down the soil and exclude air, killing the active plant life bacteria. This

encourages the accumulation of toxic substances and the growth such as those

which produce the parasitic fungi known as ‘blight’ and ‘black spot’ The foliage

may blacken and wilt and black blotches may appear on the leaves. These

conditions are very commonly seen along the coast where they attack crops

of tomatoes and potatoes.

These diseases are in no way connected with the

white fleck or mosaic disease. The fungoid diseases are much more fatal,

but, fortunately, they are much more easily cured by correcting the

conditions (i.e., surplus of water) which have brought them about.

These are not, however, the only signs shown by the leaves of orchid plants to indicate an

excess of moisture. If the tips of the leaves are black, this is not a disease, but may be likened

to chilblains in that it is brought about by the cold. The roots have become chilled and have

produced this effect upon the leaves. Now look to the roots. Continual dampness sours the soil

in the bottom of the pot. The roots therefore will be seen to have risen to the surface of the

pot, where they form a mat in an attempt to obtain suitable conditions.

- 2 -

Apart from the marks on the leaves, the actual colour and conditions of the leaves themselves

will show excessive watering. They become yellowish and sickly weak because they have

become starved of plant foods, particularly nitrogen.

Overwatering Causes Plant Starvation

To understand this, one must know a little about the root of the orchid. A root consists of a

spongy outer casing and a central fibre of conductive tissue which feeds the plant, surrounded

by a hairy mass of fibre roots which grow about half as long as the root is thick. These fibre

roots are very numerous and they absorb sufficient moisture from a small area in its

immediate vicinity. Along with moisture it should also draw in plant food. But it would soon

exhaust the amount of food in that small area. if, however, the pot is allowed to dry out a little,

the roots will draw moisture from further afield and bring with it the plant food

which is waiting to be used. It is useless to provide plants with nourishment if at

the same time they are overwatered, for very little of the plant food supplied will

reach the plant itself. Roots also need air. Only when the potting material begins

to dry out can the air circulate. The roots indicate the health of the plant They

should be firm and whitish with a green or brown tip.

If plants are watered correctly they will remain healthy under adverse conditions.

The bulbs will be clean and full, the leaves glossy green and erect and flowering all that could

be desired.

How to Avoid Errors in Watering

The actual method of watering employed is not of great importance. It may be done by

immersion or by means of a set sprinkler. Probably the best method is to water the plants

several times at intervals of ten minutes with a watering can or hose. It is vitally important

that the plant should be watered thoroughly and for this reason it is better to water at

intervals rather than continuously as it is easier to determine whether the plants have received

enough water. Except when drenching to remove salts, care should be taken to avoid the

running off of large quantities of water. This simply is a waste of water, and washes the plant

foods from the soil.

Factors Affecting Frequency of Watering

Once the soil in the pot has been thoroughly saturated, skill and judgment are needed to know

when to repeat the process, remembering the dangers that follow from overwatering. A great

deal depends on individual conditions which vary from one house to another.

Factors requiring consideration are-

The arrangement of the shadehouse

. Is it draughty, letting in drying winds, or is it well

ventilated?

The nature of the soil.

Is it porous, allowing for quick drainage and evaporation of water, or

heavy, retaining the moisture for some time?

The degree of dampness of the benches, pots, and floors.

If these are damp there will be

little evaporation and the soil will dry out slowly. Under these conditions thorough watering

needs to be carried out at intervals of a fortnight or even longer.

The weather.

This naturally has an important bearing on the matter. If it is hot and windy,

drying out the soil quickly, the plants should be watered once a day.

The size of the pots.

Large pots dry more slowly than small ones. Group the pots, if possible,

according to size. Then by examining one or two of each group, it will be obvious whether the

entire group is ready to be watered.

The amount of watering is also related to the plant’s growth cycle. Orchids

require most water when the new growth starts. When the plant matures give

less water until the buds appear, at which stage the plant should not be

allowed to dry out. After flowering comes a resting period when watering

should be reduced. Newly potted plants should be misted with a fine

spray. Avoid watering until sign of new growth appear, eg, an eye or new

roots.

- 3 -

Always remember, however, that orchids are equipped by nature to withstand dryness, as this

is a constant threat under their natural conditions. Any mistake will soon become apparent and

less harm will have been done by underwatering for a short time than would have been done

by overwatering.

The most important points to remember are:

1. Never allow the plants to be thoroughly dry for any length of time

2. Avoid overwatering

3. If in doubt, postpone watering until the next day

4. Wise watering will produce healthy plants and numerous flower spikes.

These notes have been used at our Cultural and New Grower’s Meetings. They are from various

sources and we thank the authors. All articles are supplied in good faith and the Bribie Island

Orchid Society and its members will not be held responsible for any loss or damage.

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