Well, the topic water is a very important topic. One can’t say: an orchid needs so much water or less in this period of time. This depends on several factors.

First at all, it depends on how you cultivate your orchids: in the house, cellar or a greenhouse. Second, it depends if the orchid is mounted or in substrate and which orchid it is. Another factor is how high the humidity in the air is and if the orchid is in the growing phase or having a rest period and only needs a bit water.

One thing one often observes, beginners drown her orchids quite often. The orchids get the water over the earth roots, air roots, and leaves. Some orchids have bulbs that can save a lot of water. Other orchids have carneose leaves as water reservoir. Orchids don’t like “footbaths “! This can happen when you water them too often and the water stays in the planter. The roots start to rot and the orchids die. The real orchid pots have enough holes on the bottom to let the water run out. It’s handy to put a little grid between the planter and the pot or some pebbles. This prevents the roots from standing in water. It’s ok when some of the water stays between the pebbles; this effect gives more air humidity.

The pots should be cleaned from time to time to prevent vermin or stinky algae from developing.

If this seems a bit confusing for you, there are some rules for watering. For a pot with 12 cm average you can water once per week. On hot summer days it needs a bit more. If the plant is having a rest period, she needs less water. Most of the orchids like to be sprayed once or twice per day. Pay attention that no water runs into the heart of the plant or into the axilla.

Another help is to lift the pot. If it feels lightweight, the substrate is dry and can get watered. If it feels a bit heavy, wait a couple of days. You will get the feel for this as you get more experience.

Mounted orchids must be sprayed every day once or better twice. They also should get a bath for an hour once or twice per week. In this time, the roots soak up a lot of water. The water generally should be room temperature. Rainwater would be perfect but only clean rainwater (gather rainwater and let it set a few days before using). You also can use filtered water, it depends of how much calcium you have in your water at home. The water shouldn’t be too salty because this can damage the roots.