How to Grow Cattleya Orchids: Watering and Humidity

How to Grow Cattleya Orchids: Watering and Humidity

Cattleyas need 50% to 80% relative humidity. This can be provided within the house by placing the plants in dishes filled with gravel and partially filled with water and placing the plants above the gravel without touching the water. In dry weather it is good to spray the plants with steam or water spray, but only in the morning. The air must be continuously circulating around the plants to prevent fungal and bacterial diseases, especially if the humidity is high and the temperature is cool.

During the vegetative growth of the Cattleya plant, known by the new sprouts coming up over the front, you should irrigate more frequently, but stop when the plant completed its development and start blooming.

Once a month is recommended to irrigate thoroughly with fresh water for washing and prevent the accumulation of salts in the roots and pot. Watering should be done like a gentle rain to avoid any damage to the flowers.

The substrate needs to dry before watering again, and it's very important to keep it dry at night. In the rainy season there is little evaporation and irrigation, so reduce the watering frecuence to keep the substrate slightly damp. After the blooming, continue watering the orchid plant to avoid it to get dry.

Another thing you should consider is the base where the cattleya orchid plant is, orchids planted in chunks and plates of fern root, need more frequent watering because the water runs off quickly, but not those in pots with roots of fern and moss, the water stays in them longer, but that have the carbon substrate, pine chips, retain the irrigation water for long.

The water: rainwater is excellent for irrigation, contains nutrients that plants need. Remember that tap water usually contains a large amount of dissolved salts, one of them, very harmful to orchids, is chlorine (gas) always linked to sodium, an irrigation water with toxic salts dissolved, will make the process of osmosis is reversed, and consequently the plant is dehydrated. This tip can help, keep the tap water in an open and aired recipient for around 3 hours before use it for irrigation.

For more guidelines about orchids cultivation and a lot of more interesting facts about orchids Click here

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