Wednesday, 21st of June 2023 [73]
I started drafting this article probably couple months ago. I wrote a lot and added lots of pictures and then somehow I lost the draft and also lost interest in writing it allover again.
I guess enough time has passed and I can now write it again without feeling like I’m repeating myself 😉
The idea for this post was sparked by a Discord (The Terminal) friend of mine @wesphilbin who asked what do I do to make my orchids bloom so beautifully. In truth, having 40+ orchids at home there is a big chance that at least a few of them will be in bloom at any given time. I have many different types of orchids left from the times I was obsessed with them and they all have different blooming times.
Phalaenopsis orchids for example naturally bloom in Winter/Spring. These are the most commonly found in supermarkets. When temperatures drop in Autumn and the difference between day and night temperatures increases, coupled with shorter days, this gives them a ‘signal’ to produce a flower spike, provided the plant has enough nutrients to flower.
Why then we can find Phalaenopsis orchids in bloom in supermarkets all year round? That’s because commercial growers can regulate the temperature and light in their greenhouse and thus ‘force’ them to bloom out of season.
What you will find with your newly purchased orchid is that for a few years after the purchase it will continue to bloom at the same time it bloomed when you purchased it. After a couple of years it will slowly go back to its natural rhythm.
Ok, it’s a little more complicated than that, because there are many various types of Phals and they too have different blooming times, depending on the region they originate from, but those Phals that we can find in the shops are mainly complex hybrids and the Autumn spiking rule applies to majority of them.
Sure, they come in various colour variations and sizes and some will have more quirks than the others, but generally they have very similar growing patterns.
Let’s get down to the care routine for these beauties, cause above all we all love to see them in bloom.
NO ICE CUBS PLEASE!
First of all, let’s debunk this myth circulating around that couple ice cubs a week is enough to keep your orchids happy for life! I think some sellers actually started this weird trend to maybe help people not to overwater their orchids.
Yes, many orchids die from overwatering.
No, 2 cubes a week are not enough to keep them #aliveandthriving
In nature they grow on trees. They attach their strong roots to the tree or its branch and feed off whatever debris rolls down the tree to their roots with rain water. Sometimes it’s a terrential rain, other times no rain for weeks. That’s why they have thick roots - to store the water in them for the dry days. It’s how they roll.
To keep them happy in our houses we need to simulate those patterns the best we can, while also adjusting our routine to the changing seasons.
The way I water my orchids is to completely immerse them in their outside pot with fertiliser mixed in and leave them like this for around half an hour. Any stubborn roots growing outside the pot I try to dip in water too, for a good soak.
Fertilising is not necessary at each watering, but I applied a version of ‘weekly weakly’ to my watering routine, although I don’t water them weekly either 😂 What it means though is that I fertilise my orchids at around 1/4 of the reccomended dose, but more often.
I think next time I’ll do just water, because I’ve been doing this for so long, there must bit quite a big buildup of salts from the fertiliser in those pots, so just water will do them good for a change.
To be honest, the setup I have for my orchids allows me for a bit more play and neglect in my care routine, but I wouldn’t advise this setup if you’re just starting to grow orchids. It’s tricky to get it right at first and you might loose your orchids in the process of conversion.
If you’re not obsessed with orchids like I once was, it is best to keep it simple. Getting your watering routine right is the most important and balance is the key here.
2 best rules to apply to your watering regime are:
1. Observing your orchid roots:
Dry roots usually have light green to silver colour.
Newly watered roots are deep green in colour.
Extreemly dry roots shrink in size and eventually become brown.
Rotten roots become mushy and also yellow/brown in colour.
But hey, what are the words without pictures? So to illustrate, here are some examples of roots after watering:
Here a few nice captures of before and after. Silver roots before watering and green afterwards.
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2. Checking the weight of the pot.
That rule will take you a few waterings before you’ll be able to judge it. Just pay attention to the weight of your orchid after you removed it from the water you were soaking it for half an hour. When you pick it up a week later you’ll notice how much lighter it feels. After a while you’ll be able to tell whether it needs watering or not, just by lifting the pot.
Truth be told, lifting up your orchids to have a look at it is also a good practice. This way you can spot any alarming things that might be happening to your orchids early enough to prevent deterioration.
This would be a good example. I placed my orchid on a sunny windowsill and it was good there in winter, but as soon as strong spring sun show up, it burned my orchids leaves. Picking it up to inspect let me react in time and move it further away from the window, so it won’t get more burned.
Another general rule I aplly is that I water my orchids more often in Spring and Summer than I do in Autumn and Winter. The same goes for fertilising. In Spring and Summer your Phalaenopsis orchids grow the most, due to longer days and warmer temperatures. That’s the best time boost their growth with regular fertilisation.
Speaking of fertilising… well, I think that’s a topic for another time. Hopefully this will help Wes and other orchid enthusiasts with their Phalaenopsis watering routine and if you guys are curious about fertilising and anything else, drop me a comment and I’ll write some more.
Would you like to know more about:
- fertilising?
- repotting?
- spotting overwatered orchid?
- other types of orchids?
Let me know!
| Camera: | iPhone11 |
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| Photographer: | @fantagira |
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Awesome post… very helpful especially the before and after photos of watering.
My little one is still alive and has put another leave out.
So let’s see if it ever flowers.
I would be interested in reading more about fertilising and repotting.
Have a wonderful evening sweetie 🤗🥰
Hey Jackie! Great to see you and I’m super happy you enjoyed reading this. Fingers crossed one day it will. I defo wanna read about it when it happens 😍
Fertilising and repotting goes on the list 😘
Have a great week yourself and need to catch up with your blogs too!
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Thank you so much, I truly did. As you know… a new orchid mum here hahaha
After my mother in-law brought one up in her car. It got totally stressed.
It does seem to recover.
I will keep it in mind and take some photos along the way.
Awesome thanks!
Will do… you do the same.
When you have time sweetie 🤗🥰
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I hope yours will survive and thrive Jackie. Gifted orchids are always so much more precious. I still have one given to me by my ex’es mum and it flowers abundantly every year. I’m actually scared of repotting it, cause that is always stressful for them 🙈
Anyway, have an amazing weekend hun! 😘💙
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Yes, gifted plants are extra special 😊 my mother in law wanted to give up on it. But I said… nope let me get it through.
Oh I feel you… it is always stressful for them. I am also always afraid of moving. Some plants go into such stress.
Thank you so much sweetie 🤗🥰 enjoy your weekend too!
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I do actually have another question...
All of the above? Would be curious as to what you "use" for fertilizer. We have used boiled banana water, as well as potato water (not straight from the stove mind you!). For actual watering... we have been using rain water we collect outside. Curious of your thoughts!
Haha, all of the above, you got it!
Rain water is the best for sure!
Home made fertilisers are great too and I use them occasionally, but while they give your orchids some minerals, others will be missing, so it’s good to add a balanced fertiliser to the routine too. Even if it’s tomato fertiliser, as it has pretty much all your orchids need. Mixing it with a rain water is great, as tap water already has additives and with fertiliser on top it’s easy to burn root.
All the best with your developing flower spike! Can’t wait to see the blooms 😍
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This article is so great, Monika. It makes me want to go and buy an orchid, hehe.
I haven't had one at home for years.
Do it, do it!
I remember at first I was buying all the past flowering orchids on sale. I was saving them I was telling myself 😂😂😂
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Gosh you have a lot of orchids, I bet they look really beautiful scattered everyone surrounding the house. 🤩🤩❤️
I do have a lot sis. I have these periods when I get obsessed with things and buy masses of them and then I end up having lots. There is a downside to it though, as looking after so many takes a lot of time and there are casualties sometimes 🙈
Thank you for stopping by sis 💙
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Cheers to that 🥂
What beautiful images dear @fantagira. I've never grown orchid plants but I just might with how carefully you talked about this. Your orchids are beautiful and have a lot of love thrown into them as well. Really lovely.🌺
Do it! Go find some past flowering orchids on sale and see if you can make them flower 🌺 😁
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Oh. I'll enjoy doing that so much. Thanks for the encouragement and I hope you're having a most spectacular weekend.🤗
Thank you so much. It was a good weekend and now the new one is just 1 day away 😁
Good luck 🤞 💙
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So many beautiful orchids. You’re a very good and active gardener.
I wish I was paying much more attention to them to be honest. I used to give them much more time and attention in the past!
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Awesome watering advice... I must admit half the time I have no idea what I'm doing with my orchids.
I'll be waiting for the post on fertilising orchids as the stuff I got from the store doesn't seem to do much.
Haha 😂 Orchids can be tricky to grow, but if you see new roots and leaves growing then you’re doing well. Flowering doesn’t always happen every year 🤷🏻♀️
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