How can you tell if your orchid needs water?

By far the most important step of orchid care is watering. This is also the part that some people find tricky. Do I water too much or too little? To find out whether your orchid needs watering, here’s a handy and easy trick!

 

How can you tell if your orchid needs water?

Check the roots! The colour of the roots will tell you if an orchid needs water. If the roots are grey, it is time to water. If the roots are green, the plant has enough water.

Read also: What to do with an orchid with yellow leaves?

 

 

How should I water my orchid?

If it is necessary to water your orchid, there are three methods to ensure orchids are watered properly:

  • Bathing: Put the roots of the orchid in a shallow bath for a short while (5-10 minutes). You can use a basin, a bucket or your sink. Leave the (plastic) inner pot in place to ensure that you don’t damage the roots. It’s also essential that the plant dries thoroughly after its bath because orchids don’t like wet feet.
  • Dish of water: You can also water your orchid by immersing it in a dish filled with water. By placing the orchid with its (plastic) inner pot in a layer of water for 5-10 minutes, the roots will absorb the water they need. If you do this, make sure to let the orchid dry well.
  • A shot glass of water: If you don’t have time or you can’t take the orchid out of its pot, the shot glass is the perfect tool for you. To give an orchid the exact amount of water it needs, you only need to pour one shot glass of water (around 60 ml) between the roots.

 

In this video, you can see the above steps:

 

 

For more care tips and inspiration:

Orchid winter care tips: how to keep your orchids fit and vital

Do you ever wonder this: how much water does an orchid get? What is the best place in the house? And does an orchid actually need nutrition? The biggest misconception is that orchids are difficult to look after, when in fact they are so easy! With a little extra attention, you can enjoy your orchid for months, often even years. We collected some tips to keep your orchids in top condition this winter.

Orchid winter care tips: how to keep your orchids fit and vital

 

Watering

By far the most important step of orchid care is watering. In winter, we recommend watering once a week. Tip: to see whether your orchid needs water, just look at the roots. Are they grey then it’s time for water. Green roots mean the orchid has enough water.

If you wonder: when do I water too much or too little? With these three methods you’ll make sure your orchid is watered correctly. Check the video below or read it here: 3 ways to water your orchid.

 

 

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Put your orchid in a bright spot

As it is darker in winter, it is recommended to place your orchid close to the window. This way, they will still catch enough light, during the darker days. When looking for a spot for your orchid, there are a few things to consider:

  • Orchids like plenty of light, but they don’t like direct sunlight. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean that you can never put your orchid on a window sill, just make sure to pick a sill that’s not in full sunlight all of the day. In winter, the orchid can safely be placed in the window sill, as the sun shows itself much less often then and is less bright.
  • Orchids don’t like draughts. A little fresh air now and then won’t be a problem, but be wary of windows and doors that are often open.
  • Another thing orchids don’t like is being near a heater. In summer, when your heater is off, it’s not a problem, but pay attention to this in winter.
  • Orchids like a room temperature of at least 15 to at most 25 °c. Most rooms in modern houses comfortably meet these demands.
  • The kitchen is a fine place for orchids, but be wary of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables emit ethylene, which may cause your orchid to drop all its buds at once.

 

 

Cut off dead flowers

When the flowers of your orchid die, they dry out and eventually fall off. If this doesn’t happen naturally, you can also cut off the dried flowers carefully yourself. Doing so allows the plant to focus all its energy on its blooming flowers and new buds. During the bloom period of your orchid you don’t need to trim it. When your orchid has completely finished blooming, you may choose to trim it to stimulate the creation of new buds. How? Read this article: How do I get my orchid to flower again?

 

 

More care tips? You can read it here!

Orchid summer care tips: how to keep your orchids fit and vital

Do you ever wonder this: how much water does an orchid get? What is the best place in the house? And does an orchid actually need nutrition? The biggest misconception is that orchids are difficult to look after, when in fact they are so easy! With a little extra attention, you can enjoy your orchid for months, often even years. We collected some tips to keep your orchids in top condition this summer.

Orchid summer care tips: how to keep your orchids fit and vital

 

Watering

By far the most important step of orchid care is watering. In summer, we recommend watering once a week. You may wonder: when do I water too much or too little? To make it easy, we have highlighted three methods to make sure your orchid is watered correctly. You can read it here: 3 ways to water your orchid.

Tip: to see whether your orchid needs water, just look at the roots. Are they grey then it’s time for water. Green roots mean the orchid has enough water.

 

 

Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken

 

Een bericht gedeeld door OrchidsInfo (@orchidsinfo)

 

Put your orchid in a bright spot

An orchid is often placed in the windowsill or somewhere else close to the window, but in summer that can be a little too warm. If you’re looking for a nice place for your orchid, there are several things to keep in mind:

  • Orchids like plenty of light, but they don’t like direct sunlight. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean that you can never put your orchid on a window sill, just make sure to pick a sill that’s not in full sunlight all of the day.
  • Orchids don’t like draughts. A little fresh air now and then won’t be a problem, but be wary of windows and doors that are often open.
  • Another thing orchids don’t like is being near a heater. In summer, when your heater is off, it’s not a problem, but pay attention to this in winter.
  • Orchids like a room temperature of at least 15 to at most 25 °c. Most rooms in modern houses comfortably meet these demands.
  • The kitchen is a fine place for orchids, but be wary of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables emit ethylene, which may cause your orchid to drop all its buds at once.

 

 

Cut off dead flowers

When the flowers of your orchid die, they dry out and eventually fall off. If this doesn’t happen naturally, you can also cut off the dried flowers carefully yourself. Doing so allows the plant to focus all its energy on its blooming flowers and new buds. During the bloom period of your orchid you don’t need to trim it. When your orchid has completely finished blooming, you may choose to trim it to stimulate the creation of new buds. How? Read this article: How do I get my orchid to flower again?

 

 

More care tips? You can read it here!

How to keep your orchid in perfect condition!

If you have an orchid, you want to enjoy it for as long as possible. With the care tips below, you can keep your orchid in perfect condition!

 

Use special orchid potting soil

When you buy an orchid, it will already be in the right type of soil. You can leave your orchid in that pot, or you can style it in your own pot, with multiple orchids or on its own. The type of soil you use when repotting orchids is very important. Never use normal potting soil, because it doesn’t have all the nutrition your orchid needs or the right structure for your plant. Garden centres sell special orchid soil that has the right composition.

 

Put your orchid in a bright spot

If you’re looking for a nice place for your orchid, there are several things to keep in mind:

  • Orchids like plenty of light, but they don’t like direct sunlight. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean that you can never put your orchid on a window sill, just make sure to pick a sill that’s not in full sunlight all of the day.
  • Orchids don’t like draughts. A little fresh air now and then won’t be a problem, but be wary of windows and doors that are often open.
  • Another thing orchids don’t like is being near a heater. In summer, when your heater is off, it’s not a problem, but pay attention to this in winter.
  • Orchids like a room temperature of at least 15 to at most 25 °c. Most rooms in modern houses comfortably meet these demands.
  • The kitchen is a fine place for orchids, but be wary of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables emit ethylene, which may cause your orchid to drop all its buds at once.

 

Cut off dead flowers

When the flowers of your orchid die, they dry out and eventually fall off. If this doesn’t happen naturally, you can also cut off the dried flowers carefully yourself. Doing so allows the plant to focus all its energy on its blooming flowers and new buds. During the bloom period of your orchid you don’t need to trim it. When your orchid has completely finished blooming, you may choose to trim it to stimulate the creation of new buds. How? Read this article: How do I get my orchid to flower again?

 

Did you know…

…that you can make your orchid truly shine by giving it a little extra food? Give your orchid a little orchid food once per month in summer, or once per two months in winter. Make sure you do not use normal plant nutrition, this is too strong for the orchid. Only use special orchid food!

 

Watch the video here:

 

 

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