Watering different kinds of orchids

[VioletSky]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this board and rather new to orchids as well, fell for the addiction about a year ago.
Anyway, during the last weeks I purchased a couple of new plants. During the last years, I've managed to kill two mini phals due to overwatering them (gave them water every 2-3 days)..
And ever since then I've been quite afraid of watering my orchids too much/not enough/etc.

I live in a quite cold, humid area. Most of my plants are located near a window that's facing East. My watering schedule (50/50 distilled water + tap water):

NoID Phals (cause we all have em): Once a week, fertilizer every 14 days.

Dendrobium nobile hyb.: One or two times a week depending on the weather, fertilizer every 14 days. I used to water it more than this and it's been blooming and growing fine, but lost leaves.
I thought this was normal for the nobile hybrids, but once I started watering it less it stopped losing leaves.

Dendrobium phalaenopsis hyb.: Same as the nobile. It's quite new. Do these two dendrobium types need a different watering schedule?

Madevallia hybrid: This one is supposed to be a hardy hybrid bred for ordinary homes, unlike other Masdevallia species.
Since it isn't supposed to get completely dry I'm spraying its sphagnum with water each day. Once a week it's getting more than usual. No fertilizer for this one.

Burrageara Nelly Isler: This popular hybrid also supposedly shouldn't be all dry, so I'm spraying its sphagnum-bark-mix with water every 2 days and it's getting watered once a week.
It also gets fertilized every 14 days.

Cattleya ???: I bought this one as a "mystery Cattleya" from a reputable nursery. It's a part of an adult plant, but not tagged and not in bloom yet, so I have no idea which type this is.
It arrived without a pot so I planted it in usual orchid bark. I read that freshly repotted plants aren't supposed to be watered right away, is that correct? Since it seemed very dry I sprayed the leaves and the bark on the top a tiny little bit, though. Are cattleyas supposed to be watered once a week like Phals?

I'd really appreciate someone looking over this and giving an OK, or pointing out mistakes/things I have to improve. I absolutely do not want to kill my plants by giving them too much or not enough water.

Thanks in advance, I hope this thread is alright!

[silken]

Welcome to Orchid Board

It sounds like your schedules will work for your orchids fairly well. But depending on time of year, temperature and also the size of each plant, they may need something different from a strict schedule. Water them as they need it. This is about the time frames you refer to. Phals, Dens and Oncidiums don't like to be completely dry, or not for long. Cattleyas should have a good chunky medium and good air/drainage holes in the pot. They should dry or come close to drying completely before watering again. Especially in a cooler more humid location.

The Masdevalia should have some fertilizer. Many suggest watering their orchids weakly, weekly. But every other week is OK too. Doing it with 1/2 to 1/4 the recommended amount on a weakly basis gives an even feed. Once a month pots should be flushed with clear water.

A good way to tell if your orchids need to be watered is to use the skewer method. Buy a bag of inexpensive thin bamboo kebab skewers. Stick one in each pot down near the bottom and near the centre of the pot. This is where the most moisture will be held. At watering time, pull it out and see how wet or dry it is. Use it as a guide to determine if each plant needs water. For my Oncidiums, it is still damp, but not very wet, for a Cattleya it is nearly bone dry. Put it back into the same place so you aren't stabbing holes in roots every time.

Hope this helps.

[WhiteRabbit]

I agree with silken's advice

[NYCorchidman]

Whatever you grow, you have to adjust watering depending on the potting mix you use and the size of the pot and the plants' rootball.

It might take some getting used to, but with some diligent observation, you will learn to know when to water your plants.

Once or twice a week for certain plants is not really a good method, although it may be convenient as a general rule.

[Leafmite]

I usually find it best to water my plants when they need it instead of following a schedule, just like NYCorchidman.
Your Cattleya will need to dry out between watering. The medium should be very open and dry quickly, even in the middle and bottom of the pot.