How often to water and fertilize orchids?

Orchids are extremely popular in Polish homes, also due to the fact that they are a wonderful addition to a gift for any occasion. They look beautiful - with the right care. To ensure your specimen lasts as long as possible, read our article where we explain how often to water and fertilize your orchids.

Is it difficult to care for orchids? 

Orchids are extremely hardy potted plants, which unfortunately doesn't mean they can't be killed. On the contrary, very often these beautiful flowers wither or are attacked by mold bacteria - mainly due to insufficient care. Many believe that it is impossible to keep an orchid in perfect condition and this is a very delicate plant, which, however, is not true. This myth stems from the fact that orchids require access to a climate suitable for their variety, and there are more than 30 of them - buying or donating on a first-come, first-served basis can end up with the plant dying despite the best efforts of its owner.

The ideal variety for home conditions will be phalaenopsis, aka phalaenopsis. It belongs to heat-loving orchids that thrive at temperatures from 21 to 27 degrees Celsius during the day and from 16 to 18 at night, which is optimal for Polish apartments. Moreover, it is called the easiest orchid to grow, including due to the fact that it does not have high hopes for sunlight - partial shade is enough for it. Thanks to this, it can stand on the windowsill, preferably next to an east-facing window, where it will be a little cooler.

How often to water orchids? 

The great advantage of orchids is that they do not require frequent watering. On the contrary, the soil must be completely dry before giving them more water. This feature makes this plant one of the best care products for beginner flower lovers, as well as busy and forgetful people. If you forget to add water to a pot of orchids every few days, then most likely nothing bad will happen to them.

The frequency of watering depends on the general level of air humidity, but is within the range of once every 4-7 days in the case of plant dormancy and once a week in winter. Always check that the substrate is no longer wet before adding water - if you still feel wet, wait another day. Check not with your fingers, touching the ground from above, but inside the pot by inserting a wooden stick into it - if in one place it is darker than at the top, then the soil still needs to be dried. Drying is the most important component of keeping the plant in good condition for a long time (immediately after choosing the right type of orchid).

It is important not only how often to water orchids, but also how. Most potted plants are watered quite thinly, but this species is completely different: orchids love really heavy watering. So much so that experienced flower growers recommend setting the watering can aside and immersing the flower in a larger vessel filled with water so that the entire pot is immersed in water.

An orchid should take such a bath for at least 15 minutes and a maximum of 1 hour - during this time the soil and roots will be properly saturated. It is important that it is not poured directly from the tap (if a filter is not installed in it), but boiled, filtered or distilled. And how often should the plant be fertilized?

How often to fertilize orchids? 

Not everyone knows that orchids need to be fertilized regularly - complete gardening enthusiasts often associate this activity with cultivated fields or external discounts. In fact, garden plants also need extra reinforcement to grow properly, which is provided by the right fertilizer. Feeding an orchid will make flowers with larger petals, with a beautiful rich color - they will become more lush.

What fertilizer to choose? Fortunately, this is very simple, because fertilizer manufacturers offer products designed specifically for orchids, as they also call them. So look for fertilizer for orchids, a good choice would be, for example, the Florovit brand drug. Growers recommend fertilizing orchids once a month, but most gardeners recommend a biweekly frequency. Then, of course, the dose should be half the amount indicated on the package if necessary once a month. Some summer residents, on the contrary, adhere to the principle of feeding every three waterings of the plant - it is worth trying both methods and seeing which one will be more convenient for you.

So, as you can see, growing orchids doesn't have to be very complicated, and keeping this beautiful flower in perfect shape requires following very simple rules. With a little effort, you will surely be able to handle a new plant!

More guides can be found on AvtoTachki Passions in the Home and Garden section.

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