Watering small orchids in small pots

[Birdieollie]

Hello! I hope I started this thread in the right place. Newbie with a watering question.Would it make sense that young/small orchids in small pots need more frequent watering than larger orchids in larger pots? I read all over the internet that watering indoors typically happens every seven to ten days, but some of these little guys seem like they want water much more frequently. I'm trying to separate myself from one-size-fits-all advice, and the fear of overwatering, or overwatering in winter. If I were to water based on the speed at which the media dries out, I would water some of these orchids twice a week. My Twinkles seem to dry out in two or three days. This little encyclia radiata doesn't seem to be using much water, but I'll bet it's dry in four or five days. This Wilsonara I've only had a week or two, but it seems to need frequent watering, between the small terracotta and the new bark. So I guess what I'm asking is, are there plenty of reasons where watering two or three times a week, despite it being winter, would make sense? I'm in N Ky where it's 65 F in the house and humidity is 45-50%. Several of these orchids are in east windows with lots of supplemental light. Thanks for any advice you might have!

[Roberta]

Your observations are spot-on! You can't water by the calendar. When they're getting dry, they need water. So a small pot (especially with coarse medium) may need to be watered every couple of days while a larger one, it could be twice a week or less. And the type of orchid makes a difference too - a Cattleya may be quite happy going nearly dry, while a member of the Oncidium tribe (like that Wilsonara) absolutely hates to dry out so it needs to be watered often enough to stay damp.

To manage my very large collection, I adjust medium, pot size and type to reduce tne number of variables that I have to deal with. So I can pot my Cymbidiums in plastic pots and small bark (stay pretty wet) and Laelia anceps mounted or in open baskets where they dry fast because that's what they need. Both get watered at the same frequency (both need high light so they're in the same location) and both stay happy without making me crazy.

[Dimples]

Yes, in general the smaller the pot the faster it will dry out, when compared to the same medium in a larger pot. So, it’s normal to water smaller pots much more frequently.

[Birdieollie]

Thanks Roberta, thanks Dimples, that's very helpful to hear. If I could ask one more watering question... Say these little pots still have some moisture in the bottom, but the surface roots are dry. Can I mist the surface in between waterings? Is that something that orchid growers do? It's probably not feasible with a large collection, but if I have the time and willingness, does it make sense to do that? If only the top needs water, just water the top? I guess that sounds like a silly question, but I feel bad for those superficial roots.

[Roberta]

It wouldn't do any harm... Orchids are air plants, so the roots in the air are fine... but of course the house is less humid than a rain forest so you're adding a bit of that. Orchids don't suffer from too much water, rather from not enough air. So keep it airy and they'll be happy.

[estación seca]

Watch your plants. You'll learn a lot.

[Mountaineer370]

I'll just add that I'm in a position right now where my orchids, all Phals, and all grown indoors year-round, are currently getting watered about every other day, or roughly three times a week. The temp in my home is a bit warmer than yours (71 to 72F, give or take), humidity hovers in the 30s this time of year, the orchids are all in plastic pots with plenty of air holes, and chunky Orchiata bark. So they dry out quickly, and the smaller pots quickest of all.

When I water, though, I treat every plant individually. I go by weight and whatever roots inside the pot I can see through the clear plastic. I don't actually weigh the pot, but I've been doing this long enough I can tell without a scale.

In my case, I always mist aerial roots when I water, and if a particular plant doesn't seem to need actual watering, I still mist the roots. I'm not under the illusion that the misting does anything to increase the humidity but I do it because that's the only way those roots will ever receive any water, and if I don't, I learned that they will quickly dry up and turn brown. Misting seems to keep them happy, and I like the look of aerial roots.

In my particular case, though it goes against traditional advice, I water much less often in summer months, when the humidity in my home seems to average in the 50s to low 60s, depending on the weather. They just don't dry out as quickly.

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[Dalachin]

It seems like you are doing a great job observing and watering when needed! The only orchids I have that follow that standard internet watering advice are big box style phals that are established in 5-6 inch pots with medium bark. I imagine that’s their intended audience. Just about everything else (excepting dormant and winter rest orchids) gets watered at least twice a week, and small pots really want it every other day. Really the best way is how you are doing it— taking the time to observe each individual plant.

[Birdieollie]

Thanks everyone for the helpful information and encouragement! All of the above information is exactly what I was hoping to hear. I'm so glad to have found this forum.