Watering issues

[lotusbird]

Hi Everyone
I haven't been around for awhile, spring is super busy for the orchids and the outside plants too. I have been trying to find some way to make watering a little easier than having to haul 75 orchids to the sink, it takes about 5 hours! Summer will be a little easier with many being outside, but the problem returns in fall/winter. I have a small battery operated sprayer (can't get any larger due to weakness from a stupid medical condition) I thought about 1 of those hoses that you hook up to a sink, of course I have 1 of those fancy-smancey faucets it won't fit on, and then theres the issue of where the water drains in to, I use a bucket now, but it cant be too heavy or I wont be able to carry it. I was thinking of thinning out my collection, but when I see a bloom like the 1 in the attached photo (a noid oncidium) it just makes me want to get MORE! Anyone have any ideas?

[lotusbird]

another of my rescues...

[fooferdoggie]

I have a 5 gallon tub sitting on the orchid table on a heating mat so the water does not get too cold. then I use a glass to pour water through the pot or dip the orchid in. like this guy since iti s so wide Amazon.com: Tubtrugs SP26YF Flexible Yellow Medium 26 Liter/6.9 Gallon Capacity: Home Improvement

[Dollythehun]

I do take then to the sink to soak them occasionally. Most of the time I use a kitty litter jug of rain water or filtered water with additives or not, I put a rack, like a baking rack, on a tub trug like fooferdoggie described. I set the plants on the rack and water into the tub. Then I use that run off water in a watering can to water my houseplants and outside containers. That way I'm not carrying 100 plants to the sink.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Another Orchid board member, katrina, has a system that is set up with trays and drains. I can't recall her exact set-up, but maybe you can ask her? She has posted about it before, either on OB or another Orchid forum.

I also use a pump sprayer for winter watering. During winter I stick with collected rain water and very rarely fertilize, reducing the need for flushing salts out of the pots. I apply just enough water to see a little run through the bottom of the pots.

[fooferdoggie]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I do take then to the sink to soak them occasionally. Most of the time I use a kitty litter jug of rain water or filtered water with additives or not, I put a rack, like a baking rack, in a tub trug like fooferdoggie described. I set the plants on the rack and water into the tub. Then I use that run off water in a watering can to water my houseplants and outside containers. That way I'm not carrying 100 plants to the sink.

I like the rack idea. I have a hook to have the mounted ones above the tub.

[Dollythehun]

By the way, lotusflower, I think that might be a Wilsonara. You would be amazed at how much your other plants love leftover orchid run off!

[Orchid Whisperer]

Similar to Catatante Pacific Sun Spots. May not be exactly that, but the care is the same as Wilsonara.

[lotusbird]

Wow, thanks for all the great ideas! I've always watered all my orchids for at least a minute, somewhere I read about orchids needing deep watering? So it's okay to just water until you see it coming out of the drainage holes? I'm not sure about using runoff water from 1 orchid to another, just like you should'nt soak multiple orchids in the same bucket in case of spreading potential disease?? Or mabe I worry too much?
Oh, I do think that noid orchid may be a wilsonara too. I have several, and all are heavy bloomers also. These rescues just amaze me, what can come out of 1 measly wrinkled pseudobulb, shows how resilient these plants are.

Barbara

[Dollythehun]

I'm not suggesting you recycle it to other orchids. I water each plant until the water runs through and into the bucket below. Each orchid gets fresh water, then the used water waters my other plants.