got water, got plants--what now????
 

Wow, this is a massive forum,- tried some searches but need days (it seems) to get the info I need. Can you help me? I live in the Dominican Republic. Perfect warm humid weather for my plants to live outside. it seems they also need a very porous medium in this environment. So, when I water it just goes in the top and flows right out the bottom. As I write this I have stuck them in a little bowl of water . I have found lots of threads about when to water---but just how do you do the deed?

I am a beginner in the Caribbean as well, what I was told to do that works well is to put one ice cube on the plant, not on top of the leaves.


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Sorry, reading through your thread I am not sure what you are asking. Did you get a new orchid and wondering what to do? Transplanting an orchid? Orchids are normally planted in pots with porous materials in them because their roots don't like sitting in water for long periods of time without rotting. So it's normal to water them by adding water until it runs out the bottom then stop.

Welcome to Orchid Board! You're absolutely right that you need a porous medium to grow orchids in the tropics. During the rainy season it can rain every day so you need fast drying medium. I don't know what kind of orchids you grow but cattleyas, encyclias, oncidiums, vandas, dendrobiums and many others will grow very well in your environment. Since orchids normally grow attached to trees or rocks, they don't have any medium to retain moisture in their natural setting. For the roots to get wet and then quickly dry is absolutely normal for them. If you're growing outdoors use a nozzle on your hose that breaks the water up into a fine spray that soaks the whole plant really well. Don't worry if the plants are dry an hour or two later. They absorb the water very quickly and they'll do well in your humid environment. When it's not raining, water them about twice a week if they're in pots and every two or three days if they're in wood baskets or mounted. But only water if you're sure they're dry. Vandas should be watered almost every day if the roots are hanging loose. The trick to growing orchids in the tropics is growing them in a way that they will dry very fast. Many of us grow them mounted, in wood baskets or in a rock type medium to facilitate drying. I highly recommend talking to local orchid growers if you can find some. Good luck. You're going to love growing orchids down there once you get the hang of it.

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I noticed you said you set them in a bowl of water. That's not a good idea. In nature the orchid roots are dry for much of the time. If you think the plant is not getting enough water, just water a little more often but remember drying out is more important in the tropics than providing water.

What kind of "orchid?" There are 3000 or so kinds, so saying you have an orchid is not much help.

Just say no to ice cubes! Do you see ice cubes floating around naturally in the sub tropics, the mountain slopes of South America, and other places Orchids like to grow? If anything, orchids like nice rain water, or tepid water.

The whole story behind watering is that most orchids like water, like humidity, but don't like sitting in water for any length of time.

But first, we need to know what kind of orchid you have.

tucker is a1 ok about the watering! just spray em with the hose and stand back! please, do not feel sorry for them and put them in a bowl of water! standing in water will kill them in days! think about how your orchid grows in nature, and try to duplicate those conditions....only the paphs and phrags grow down in the mulch of the forest floors near water.....most of the other grow in the trees! orchid roots are like little sponges, they soak up water and hold it for some time....don't drown them! good luck!

I agree with duonoharm and tucker85. Just hose them down and let the water run out the bottom. Don't put them in standing water and don't use ice cubes.

You are right, your environment will provide humidity and moisture to the orchids even if you don't water it everyday outdoors.
Orchid mix is used to pot orchids not potting soil that retains water. Orchid mix is a well draining media.
Soaking orchid plants in a bowl of water and let it stagnate invites root rot and bacteria infestation.
Ice cubes on orchids is deadly. Orchids are equatorial and warm loving plants....they do not react to freezing temperatures quite well....the marketing strategy for 'orchids on ice' is a ploy so when the orchid dies you buy another and it is devised for lazy people who wants orchids and not take care of it.

Glad you explained a little more into the ice cube thing, I was told that they work because it slowly introduces the water to the roots rather than soaking them. Lesson learned!

You are from the Virgin Islands....the orchids will love your tropical balmy air....
in fact you can mount your orchids on trees....
no need to soak your plants....indoor orchids can be put in the sink and let the faucet flow and drench it wet ....this flushes debris and old decayed media ....in fact you will notice there are soil like fragments being drained out of the pot