Question on watering - Orchid Board

Plantastic · #1 06-26-2014, 10:34 AM

I've recently started with miniature orchids, mounted on various pieces of wood.

The cultivation tips indicate 3 - 5 waterings per week, and to let them dry out between waterings. I picked a variety of species, that had similar care requirements.

I mist them in the morning, and by the time I get home at night, they are dry. If I am misting them twice a day, that is more like 14 waterings per week.

The display is inside, and under LED lights, air conditioner in the home, so low ambient humidity.

So, I guess my question is, How long should they be dry between waterings?

Is that just the particularities of my situation, that requires the more frequent misting, or am i over doing it?

Thanks for reading, and any help/insight.

RandomGemini · #2 06-26-2014, 12:12 PM

Which miniature orchids? There are a massive variety of them. They all have different needs. I have five different mini orchid species in my terrarium.

tucker85 · #3 06-26-2014, 12:45 PM

I think you're fine. When I water my mounted orchids, they're dry within an hour or two. They sometimes stay dry for 48 hours, but usually for 24. I don't think you should water them again in the evening. That can encourage fungus. One thing you can do is, on your day off from work, you can mist the roots in the morning, wait a couple of hours and mist them again. That will hydrate the plant a little better. A couple of times during the month, you should skip a day of misting so the plant dries out really well.

Plantastic · #4 06-26-2014, 01:18 PM

Thank you RandomGemini for responding.

I knew when I finished my post, that would be the first question! I have proven, indeed, there are stupid questions!

My apologies for my laziness!

Bulbophyllum mirum X 2

Cirrhopetaium (Bulbophyllum) andersonii

Dendrobium lichenstratum

Dendrobium quadrangulare

Harsella odorate X 2

Leptotes bicolor

Platystele stenostachya

Pleurothallis diminuta

Trichoglottis smithii

These two in particular, have me concerned.

The second one has sinced dropped that yellow leaf. It is the second one to go. I've had these orchids for appx. 3 weeks now. I have fertilized twice, with a very dilute solution of 10-30-10.

I am using RO water to mist with. After reading in my Compendium of Miniature Orchids book, I have started to mix 10% straight tap with 90% RO. I live in Phoenix, and the tap water is extremely hard ( TDS 600+ ppm).

Thank you again, RandomGemini!

---------- Post added at 10:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:58 AM ----------

Thank you tucker 85.

I didn't realize you responded. I must have been making my post with pictures.

Nailing down these recommendations and definitions is quite the learning curve.

Finding a consensus from a myriad of information, also a bit frustrating.

Thanks again!

Ray · #5 06-26-2014, 04:52 PM

Water is the driving force behind plant growth. If the plants dry out that quickly, then go ahead an water them again, even if that's 100 times a week!

Plantastic · #6 06-26-2014, 08:42 PM

Thank you Ray.

That is my inclination. However, I'm finding that orchids are very particular!

tropterrarium · #7 06-26-2014, 10:13 PM

What is the humidity in your orchid growing area? If you have 80% RH, then macroscopically "dry" condition may just be fine. If it is 20% (Phoenix), you have to water much more frequently.

Next question is how the plants are mounted. Bare roots = more watering. Thick pad of moss = less watering.

Some of the species you have can be a bit more on the dry side (Den. lichenastrum; Leptotes bicolor), others like it quite a bit wetter (Platystele, Pleurothallis). Another general way to look at it is thick roots store lots of water, so you can water less frequently; fine roots = less water storage, so more frequent watering/higher humidity.

Bottom line: culture is not just each parameter separately, but they work in concert. Temperature also plays a role (hotter = more evaporation = more watering).

I have a number of the same plants species/genera (Den. lichen., Haraella odorata, Leptotes bicolor, Trichoglottis, Platystele, Bulbos/Cirrho., various pleuros), and water them every day and keep them in 80% RH.

Re leaves dropping, your plants are new, so will need to get adjusted to their new home. Some signs of stress are absolutely normal.

Bud · #8 06-26-2014, 10:33 PM

water as needed.... trust your instincts....and observe your plants....we cant say two times a day or everyday watering....no one can tell except you....your plants are indoors with AC so its definitely dry moisture in the air....invest in a battery operated temperature and humidity reader from your local Walmart and an electric water humidifier with a small fan attached on it. It may not be a solution to all your problems but your humidity will improve.
The leaves of the Pleurothallids have some fungi in it and you need to spray that or all your leaves will be infected and the plant will die.
The bottom picture is a cernua and it is adjusting to your environment of which we still are guessing what is your grow zone?

NYCorchidman · #9 06-26-2014, 11:10 PM

With mounted orchids, you normally want to water at least once a day.

Where high humidity is maintained like a greenhouse, they still get watered daily with the sprinkler systems.
So imagine indoor environment. things dry out like crazy!

That's is why I'm taking all my mounted orchids back to pots. lol

Plantastic · #10 06-27-2014, 11:36 AM

Thank you for all the help!

I don't have an accurate way to measure the RH...yet. I am guessing that it is in the 30% - 35%. However, that is with an instrument that I don't fully trust.

I am misting them twice a day, and I have a Repti-Fogger (ultrasonic humidifier) that I run twice a day for a couple of hours. After misting, and running the Repti-Fogger, I can feel an obvious, cool moisture to the display.

This pic shows how the display is set up, with wood, and moss.

There is a ceiling fan that runs constantly, as well as an additional fan for increased air transfer. The temperature in the room is 78 F.

Bud-

When you say that I need to spray the Pleurothallid that has a fungi issue, what is it that I would be spraying with?

Thank you again, everyone!