Orchids, like most plants, need the right amount of care in order to thrive and give off
the lovely blooms that they are known for. Here are a few proven tips and tricks from
expert growers on how to prevent orchid dehydration and keep your blooms vibrant
and healthy
1. Avoid overwatering!
This may sound counter-intuitive, but keeping the roots dry is also key to avoiding
dehydration. When roots are kept in a moist or wet environment at all hours of the
day, root rot could easily take place. When this happens, the root system breaks
down and the plant can no longer efficiently take in the water it needs. This, of
course, leads to dehydration. Orchids prefer damp, not wet potting soil, so it is best to
use potting mixes that have good drainage and to use pots with drainage holes so
that the water has somewhere else to go.
2. Use a snug pot for repotting
Use a snug pot if you are repotting your orchid so that the roots are packed closely
together but not too snug that there is no air movement. If the roots are not tightly
pressed against the walls of the container, then you are good to go. Make sure the
pot has drainage holes and has good humidity to prevent waterlogging. Use a
humidifier to keep humidity levels stable.
3. Use clear plastic pots
Clear plastic pots are ideal for orchids because they let you see the condition of the
roots and they also let sunlight in, allowing sunlight to directly reach the roots. Clear
plastic pots are lightweight and provide ample space for the roots, so it is also easier
to pick up the plants if you want to examine the roots in close detail. Make sure that
the pots have holes for good drainage.
4. Use shade cloth as sun protection
If you cannot move your plants into shadier areas, improvise using a sun shade or a
sun cloth. You can even open an umbrella and place this over the orchids to protect
them from direct sunlight. This is extremely crucial if you have orchid buds, since
extreme temperatures can cause young, fragile buds to become dry, brittle and fall
off.
5. Bamboo skewers for checking dry roots
This is a super cheap and easy way to know if your orchid needs watering. A
common problem faced by many, especially those who are new to caring for orchids,
is that they do not know when to water their plants. Some may be scared of overwatering
which could lead to root rot, which is a legitimate concern.
To prevent over-watering or under-watering, stick a bamboo skewer on the spot next
to the orchid. Pull it out to see if it is damp or dry. If the stick is dry, you definitely
should water it. In the summer, giving the plant a splash of water two or three times
just to keep the plants and stem moist is also a good idea.
6. Have a handy water spray nearby
There are orchid variants that tend to dry up unevenly. Have a small water spray
handy so you can give the plant a good spray when you see some parts drying up
such as the stems and the leaves. In some cases, the roots will be moist and wellhydrated
but the stems are going white and drying up. A handy water spray will take
care of this problem. Your spray will also be useful for spraying aerial roots and
keeping these from getting dehydrated.
7. Use Ûat stones in water for the right humidity
This a nifty trick to ensure that your orchids are raised in an environment with the
right humidity. Orchids came from the rainforest, so they flower better when the
humidity is just right. If you live in an area with dry heat, you need to ensure that
humidity levels are right for your orchids to bloom.
You can do this by covering a flat tray with flat, black stones and filling the tray with
water so that the stones are almost covered. Place the pots on the stones. The rising
water from the tray and the stones will provide the right amount of humidity for your
orchids, even in dry and hot summer weather. You can get the same effect by simply
spraying the surrounding areas, such as the table or the bench that the plant is on,
with water to decrease ambient temperature and raise humidity.
Source: www.orchidcarezone.com
