Watering Phalaenopsis

[Jen960490]

I have some questions about watering my phalaenopsis orchids, I live in IL. I have been watering every five to 10 days. The potting medium I use is Better-Gro Phalaenopsis medium and that contains bark and perlite so after the first day that I water it is pretty much dry.

[GenevaDad]

Hi Jen,

I water my Phal.'s about every 6 days.

What type of pot are you using? You say the next day it is dry. On the surface? Do you stick your finger in about a half to one inch? So, depending where you keep your plants I think 10 days might be too long.

[Jen960490]

I use an orchid pot it has an attached tray on the bottom of the pot and then all around the pot there is holes for aireation. yes I did that too and also with a pencil and it comes out dry. It is dry on surface and the potting medium is also dry.

[Kmac]

I have phals I water every other day, and some that don't get watered but once every 7-10 days. It all depends on the medium, pot size, and how fast it dries out. The ones in bark mix do get watered more often, as they dry out quickly. You don't want a phal to dry out totally...so, if it really is dry (as Bob says, check an inch or two down, not just on surface) you need to water it more often.

[espranch]

Most of my phaleanopsis are mounted, but "when" they were in pots, I watered them according to pot size. A four inch pot got watered every four or five days. Six inch pot, every six to seven days...and so on. Seemed to work, because they're stlll alive.....Betty

[Germinatorman]

When you say you are watering - are you completely soaking the medium, drenching the plant? I would dunk a pot like that in water and let it sit in it for a couple minutes to make sure it was soaked. Those drainage holes are great, but they also allow it to dry out quicker.
Don

[Kmac]

When you say you are watering - are you completely soaking the medium, drenching the plant? I would dunk a pot like that in water and let it sit in it for a couple minutes to make sure it was soaked. Those drainage holes are great, but they also allow it to dry out quicker.
Don

Excellent point. You should be really soaking well when you do water. Just don't forget and leave them soaking for more than 10-15 minutes. I accidentally left one soaking a couple of hours, and it promptly died.

[Jef09071984]

Hi,

You should drench your orchid in faucet for a couple of minute for it to be watered well.
Then wait for 30 to 1 hour so that all the water will be drained before you set it back to its old place.
If your plants is super dry as in always with your 10 days interval of watering, try using humidity tray.
It will make your plant and medium nat much bone dry.....

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Phals can be easily over watered as well. Some good advice offered here. I personally would change to once every 7 days or thereabouts with this orchid. As Cathy said - you do not need to let it dry completely. BUT - never keep it wet.

cheers,
BD

[tucker85]

A phalaenopsis will require more water in the summer and less in the winter. You're doing exactly the right thing by waiting for the medium to dry out. Letting the medium almost completely dry is more important than how many days you wait. If it's the time that you normally water but the orchids don't seem dry enough, wait a couple days. More phals are killed by too much water than too little.