reuse orchid soaking water?

[akhenenra]

I've seen several articles and info sheets that suggest you shouldn't reuse the water you soak your orchids in. I grow mine in a grow tent and it gets pretty warm in there, so I tend to soak mine for half an hour or so every week ish to water. The issue is I have about 20 plants and the grow tent is a bit of a ways away from any water, so I'm basically trying to be lazy and use a big shallow Tupperware filled with water I can leave next to the tent so I'm not spending 90 min running back and forth. I cover it and seal it when I'm not using it. Is there really a reason I can't reuse the water a few times? Ideally I'd probably change it once a month. And I don't put fertilizer in there. Any thoughts appreciated! Thanks

[Dimples]

The reason reusing water from plant to plant is discouraged is because if one of your orchids has a virus or another transmissible infection (bacterial/fungal), you dramatically increase the likelihood of spreading it to the other plants by sharing water. Some people are comfortable with risks associated with group soaking tubs and water sharing, but many aren’t. I water outdoor non-orchids with the leftover water from soaking my phals.

Reusing water over and over on your whole collection for a month between changes will further increase the chance of health issues popping up. Part of the benefit of watering is the flushing out of accumulated waste products and mineral buildup. Your proposed method sounds like it will concentrate both of those over time, which isn’t good. Imagine if you rinsed your body with the same 5 gallons of water for a month and stored it between uses. Even without adding soap it would get gross pretty quickly and by the end of the month you may end up dirtier after rinsing than before.

Storing a large container of clean water to pull from each time would be a better option.

[estación seca]

If a disease does spread you can quickly have many plants die. I don't think it's worth the risk.

[LizB88]

And even if your plants are clear of any issues, just the fact that the water acidity increases that alone would cause problems with root growth. How many plants do you have and how much time does it take to water each plant individually? And if it is about water conservation, I use left over water from my orchids to water callalily bed and other plants in the yard.

[akhenenra]

Originally Posted by LizB88

And even if your plants are clear of any issues, just the fact that the water acidity increases that alone would cause problems with root growth. How many plants do you have and how much time does it take to water each plant individually? And if it is about water conservation, I use left over water from my orchids to water callalily bed and other plants in the yard.

Thank you everyone for your responses, I hadn't thought about the mineral or waste accumulation. Although it probably should be it's not about water conservation- I have about 20 plants so carrying them 2 at a time to the sink that's upstairs to soak is kind of a pain. But I'll think of another solution.

I have been soaking them primarily because I potted them all recently in my own medium mix (abt 60% bark, 30% Leica balls and 10% perlite) and I was trying to get it properly saturated to hold water better. Maybe I won't need to soak at some point? Do any of you soak regularly as a watering method? Thank you!

[tmoney]

hmmm, silly question, but why not take the water to the plants? maybe i am totally misreading how you are doing it.

and yeah, even tho water retention should increase over time with the bark, it seems best to not upset their routine. we soak them all each week, and we are over 200 plants now
if you decide to try changing the routine, try on a couple of plants for a couple of months and see if you notice any change in the test plant.

but, for us its simplet to fill 5 liter jugs and take the water to the plants. then we use a mop bucket to drain into and that goes down the toilet. for you it seems easier to carry the water and then just pour it on the floor of the shadehouse....but of course your situation may not allow this, dunno

[WaterWitchin]

Might read this sticky: A few ways to move water...

[Dimples]

When I fertilize I soak my orchids in plastic containers I’ve saved. A lot are from prepared soups (most of my orchids are also planted in soup containers I’ve turned into pots), but anything that used to hold liquid will work. If the opening is too small but the body of the container is the right size, I use a razor blade to cut the top off. At this point I have a labeled soaking bin for each plant to eliminate cross contamination, but I used to put them in the dishwasher or hand wash the non-heat-safe ones between uses when they had to share. It may be easier for you to take the water to the plants if you’re soaking them in individual cups/buckets that fit the pots better than in a community tub with a lot of extra space.

When I’m soaking my entire collection (11 phals) it takes less than 2 gallons of water.

[nemesis]

Originally Posted by Dimples

When I fertilize I soak my orchids in plastic containers I’ve saved. A lot are from prepared soups (most of my orchids are also planted in soup containers I’ve turned into pots), but anything that used to hold liquid will work. If the opening is too small but the body of the container is the right size, I use a razor blade to cut the top off. At this point I have a labeled soaking bin for each plant to eliminate cross contamination, dishwasher or hand wash the non-heat-safe ones between uses when they had to share. It may be easier for you to take the water to the plants if you’re soaking them in individual cups/buckets that fit the pots better than in a community tub with a lot of extra space.

When I’m soaking my entire collection (11 phals) it takes less than 2 gallons of water.

Is that even legal where you are this is an idea of which I have never heard. WOW! I am speaking the dishwasher thing.

[camille1585]

I do the same as dimples (but don't label the containers per plant!) and use individual containers I found at the dollar store that are only slightly larger than the pots. I stick the plants in them, use a watering can to fill the containers, and when done watering I dump everything in a big bucket and use the water on other plants. For my 50-60 orchids I use about 8-10L (2 small watering cans) so it's very manageable to bring water to the plants!