plants dry out so quickly

[mossgirl]

hey everyone. I've recently started taking in "rescue" orchids for the purpose of rehabilitating them. I've noticed that the media I use dries out so very quickly! the ones I have potted in a mix of bark, leca, sponge rock, and spag moss dry out within two days of water. Like you can hear the crunch. Even the one I have in 100% spag moss dry out in 3-5 days! I have almost 30 orchids now and watering has become a tedious chore especially since i don't reuse water. What can I do to make this chore easier on myself?

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!
When you water, do you let it run through the pot? Water really well. Then... is there a way to increase humidity in the area of the plants? If you are in a very dry area (especially indoor heat can really dry things out especially if dry to be gin with ) is there a way that the plants can be put in a partially enclosed area? (Thinking grow tent but plenty of variations on the theme) So tell us where you are located, that will help for others to give advice - everyone who isn't growing in a greenhouse has this issue and there are many solutions) A photo of your growing area would help, too.

[realoldbeachbum]

Originally Posted by mossgirl

hey everyone. I've recently started taking in "rescue" orchids for the purpose of rehabilitating them. I've noticed that the media I use dries out so very quickly! the ones I have potted in a mix of bark, leca, sponge rock, and spag moss dry out within two days of water. Like you can hear the crunch. Even the one I have in 100% spag moss dry out in 3-5 days! I have almost 30 orchids now and watering has become a tedious chore especially since i don't reuse water. What can I do to make this chore easier on myself?

Welcome to OB. You have found the right place for great orchid advice. (I am a newbie so don't have much advice to give!)

In the Winter I have the same problem - due to forced dry heat. I resolved it by getting a bedroom humidifier and placing it very near my orchids.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

[SouthPark]

Welcome to OrchidBoard!

One aspect of orchid growing - maintaining good health of orchids - it can require a lot of manual effort and care. Watering orchids can take a fair bit of time and effort. This is often expected - unless we turn toward methods such as automatic watering systems involving electronic systems ------ or methods such as hydroponics ---- or even 'semi' hydroponics - where semi-hydroponics in most basic form will also require some manual effort every once in a while - where consideration also needs to be made about the number of orchids that need to be watered.

For orchids and orchid roots that have never been adapted to very wet, and relatively low oxygen watery environments ---------- bad outcomes are often expected. And those situations for regular orchid roots generally require the media to not stay too wet for relatively long periods of time.

The above also probably depends on what sort of orchids they are - such as cattleya, or phalaenopsis, paphiopedilium, phragmipedium, oncidium etc. And also can depend on temperature ------ we usually want to avoid relatively 'cold and wet' root conditions.

The drying out of the media within 1 or 2 days can actually be a beneficial thing. While drying out of media requiring relatively long amounts of time - such as 3 days or more ------ can be a bad thing. It all depends on circumstances though.

[aliceinwl]

I’ve found watering by soaking the pot for at least 5 minutes and then letting all the water drain out significantly increases the time between waterings.

[mossgirl]

Ah yes. I live in western North Carolina which is a humid subtropical climate, oddly enough. I have been STRUGGLING to keep these orchids hydrated this winter as I got them in already pretty rough shape. They never get soggy. I water by soaking the pots for about 15 minutes each. I have a humidifier right above them (top shelf in the picture) but can’t seem to get the humidity above 35% most days unless it has rained. I know these plants will THRIVE in the spring and summer but I’m sure I’ll run into the same problems next year. Imy orchids are in a very open space as the only doors in the house are the front door, bathroom and bedroom so this is where they must remain.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by mossgirl

I have a humidifier right above them (top shelf in the picture) but can’t seem to get the humidity above 35% most days.

That sounds like a nice approach. Maybe need to get the big guns out. Like if 1 small humidifier doesn't get things rolling, then could maybe use one big one, or multiple small ones.

But at the same time ----- just got to make sure there's at least some air-movement ----- so that mold doesn't start growing on the plants and/or the walls etc.

[camille1585]

I also have humidity levels that average 35% in the winter, and pots do dry out fast, especially recently repotted Phals. I can't really do anything to increase the humidity, but did change several things to try to keep watering more manageable.

Instead of taking plants to the sink or soaking them in buckets (which needs a lot of water to be replaced each time!) I found small containers in several sizes at the dollar store , that are only slightly larger than the pots. I have over a dozen of these and they make the watering process much faster (just line them up, drop plants in them and fill with watering can), use less water, and I dump out the water in a nearby bucket before repeating with the next set of plants.

Next thing, even if the plants dry out in 2-3 days, I often water every 4-6 depending on how busy I am. I have a hand pump sprayer and once the pots have mostly dried, every morning I'll spray the surface of the media. It's a quick way to give water, and lets the plants go a couple days extra without soaking.

[Fairorchids]

You have actually mentioned a possible solution in the opening message. The plants potted in spaghnum moss take 3-5 days to dry out.

By switching from granular mix to spaghnum (possibly augmented with 10-15% bark), you will lengthen the time line for re-watering.

And, I know of no orchid, that can't be grown in spaghnum (even the ones I consider terrestrials).