Orchids drying out too fast? - Orchid Board

OrchidJoe · #1 10-19-2012, 05:32 PM

Hi everyone,

I am wondering if perhaps my orchids are drying out too fast. I have a couple of phals that are in terracotta orchid pots with the slits in the side and they are potted in miracle-gro orchid bark mix. It seems like they completely dry up after a few hours to a day and the bark and pot are back to prewatering appearance. Is this normal and I should keep a weekly watering schedule or should I be watering every time it dries out?

Bud · #2 10-19-2012, 05:45 PM

If it is in an airconditioned room then you bet it dries fast....
Please provide us with your grow zone and if your plants are indoors on east or south facing window ....in order for us to help you best....also,
try (humidity trays)saucers with pebbles in water and put the pot over it....
if youre up to it: electric humidifiers with oscillating fans will also do the trick....
most orchids are warm tropical plants with humidity and moisture in the atmosphere.

WhiteRabbit · #3 10-19-2012, 07:34 PM

Miracle Gro orchid mix usually dries very slowly ... is it dry below the surface?

OrchidJoe · #4 10-19-2012, 07:52 PM

Sorry to leave out those important details. They are growing in zone 8 in Columbia, SC. I have them in an east facing window inside my house. I don't mind misting them during the day but I didn't know how that worked into a watering schedule.

Yes they are dry below the surface as well. Since the terracotta pots have those holes in them I check them to see if it is dry. I have also been using bamboo skewers to check the middle of the pot.

nlm2951 · #5 10-19-2012, 08:48 PM

Why don't you try SM for potting mix, is good for phals. I do have that problem, but mines are in a GH . I have a fan and misting, and they dried very fast. I'm from Miami

JaneEyre · #6 10-19-2012, 09:50 PM

If you are in doubt whether your orchids are dry inside a pot take a sharpened wooden pencil and gently insert it into the medium. Try to get as close to the middle as possible with out hurting orchid roots. Pull it out and look at the tip. If it is dry, then your orchids definitely need water. If it is wet, then wait few days before watering. Hope that helps.

RosieC · #7 10-22-2012, 08:54 AM

Drying that fast does sound very fast. Do you have anything like air-con or a simplified running?

cbuchman · #8 10-22-2012, 09:51 AM

I find that my smaller clay pots (< 2" ) can get quite dry in 1 day. Mounts and baskets can get dry in hours

I have wall mounted oscillating fans running and the constant gentle breeze really does dry them out quickly. Right now I can maintain 50%-70% humidity, but once the heat is on for the winter in earnest, I can struggle to keep the humidity at 50% and those smaller clay pots can dry out a lot faster than you would think. Hand misting exposed roots in pots and the mounts & baskets helps keep the plants hydrated as well.

I can manage when I'm home, but when we go away for a week, I really have to take measures to hydrate before leaving and try to keep the humidity up in our absence. Of course, while we're away, the heat is lower (GH is attached to house) so less water is needed. How to other cope with vacations?

RosieC · #9 10-23-2012, 06:04 AM

With low humidity and such good air movement from your fans you may find that clay pots are not the best choice. These will always loose moisture more quickly but especially with constant air movement and low humidity.

Personally I would try plastic pots, set inside a decorative outer pot. The outer pot does not need holes as long as you ensure after watering that the inner pot is fully drained and not dripping into the base of the outer pot. Most of my orchids are in plastic pots and those inside have decorative outers. I do use clay but only on the ones that I particularly want the increased evaporation from.

I would expect mounts to be dry in a couple of hours, and they do need watering every day, although in the winter I let them go 2 days even though they are fully dry as the plants are not actively growing and need less water.

When I go away I give all the mounts a good water, then leave them in the bottom of the bath which just a tiny bit of water near the plug (not under the plants). It is darker which helps them cope with being drier and the humidity will be contained in the bath to help stop them drying. I've only ever left them about 10 days but it seems to work for that.

For pots, mine dry in between 4 and 7 days generally, they cope fine for about 10 days and would probably be fine for about 14 days. The only time I've had a problem was with one that had suffered root rot without me realising, the sudden heat wave with very little roots and going so dry caused it to suffer. All others have not had a problem with this though.

cbuchman · #10 10-23-2012, 09:28 AM

Thanks Rosie. I think I've tried many of your tricks for vacation care except for the bathtub. No sure my husband will go for it, though. I also have table top glass GHs that I put the littlest pots and baskets in. With a little water in the bottom, it keeps a lot of humidity. I also turn the fans off when we're away in the winter months.

I tried wrapping clay pots in plastic wrap once too, but I am a bit leery as I found after a week that the pots were still pretty damp; might be better if you're going to be gone for a longer time.

As a recent retiree, I'm happy to check my orchids daily and I am getting ti know them well as a result. My Phals are in plastic inside clay (with hole) so I get the benefits of plastic, but the appearance of clay.

Thanks for the tips.