subject: How to Water Orchids [print this page] There are very few things as imperative to an orchid's health as good old-fashioned water. The particular water needs of an orchid will vary from one species to the other though, so that is something to pay particular attention to. It is recommended that you do research on your breed of orchid so that you are aware of its specific water needs.
Orchids are native to tropical lands, meaning that they thrive on heavy heat, moisture and humidities of approximately 80%. However if you were to attempt to emulate these conditions in your own home, you would most likely find it very uncomfortable to live in. Instead, a good method is to buy some pebbles from the nearby plant store and put them in a deep saucer. Place the orchid on top of the pebbles and simply water the pebbles. Do not allow the water to ever come into direct contact with the orchid's roots.
While it is completely true that orchids crave the moisture of tropical conditions, it is a very common mistake to overwater your orchid. Just because the soil around your orchid is dry, does not mean that it is necessarily time to water it. In fact, you actually only need to water the average orchid once every 1 1.5 weeks. It is also possible to overfertilize your orchids as well. They only need to be fertilized once, immediately before the blooming stage, and not again thereafter.
If you simply do your proper research at your local plant shop, at the library or online, you can easily find the necessary information you need about the specific water needs of your particular orchids.
