Orchid Update! - Eight Day's After Changing Watering Routine

How Have Things Been ..

It's been just over a week now .. Since I changed my Phalaenopsis Orchid watering habits. Incase you missed it, last weekend I started a new watering regiment that I will try for a few months to see how it works out. I will be flooding the pots of my Phal Orchids (Letting them stand in water for 20 minutes) instead of pouring water into the bark media every week. The practice is supposed to be better for their root system thus improving overall plant health.

**As you may have noticed, the new bloom spike is growing fast! It won't be long before we have flower photos to share and to write about.. SO EXCITING!

8 Day's After the Watering Changes ..

And the plants are looking great! .. So far we are quite happy with the way the Phal's have responded to this new way of watering. Take a look at these photos and you'll see that the leaves are showing good plumpness, the roots are green and plump, and the overall look of the plants couldn't be better.

The Goals To Watering This Way ..

I have a few thoughts to why I made the change .. (after researching it thoroughly) and I'll try to list them out here the best I can:

1)..Enhanced Hydration:
Phalaenopsis Orchids absorb water not only through their potting mix but also through their roots. Submersing the roots allows for a thorough hydration process, ensuring that the orchids receive the moisture they need. This method prevents underwatering, a common issue that can lead to wilting and loss of blooms.

2)..Improved Nutrient Absorption:
Watering orchids in this way also facilitates nutrient absorption. Water carries essential nutrients directly to the roots, promoting robust growth and vibrant blooms. It's like giving your orchids a nutrient-rich spa treatment every two weeks! hehe. Tap water alone has enough nutrients that I may not need to fertilize as often, but I may add a little to the water every so often for good measure.

3)..Humidity Boost:
Phalaenopsis Orchids thrive in high humidity, and submersing their roots provides a brief but effective boost in humidity levels. This is especially beneficial in drier climates or during the winter months when indoor air tends to be less humid. The increased humidity helps prevent the orchid's roots from drying out and promotes overall health.

Last but not least

4)..Simplicity and Convenience:
One of the greatest advantages of this watering method is its simplicity. No need to monitor soil moisture constantly. I will just have to set a reminder to submerge the orchid roots every two weeks. That is the one thing I will surely mess up.. REMEMBERING to do it, or forgetting when I did it last. Just being honest (After all I am getting older by the day!). It's a convenient way to maintain a consistent watering schedule without the guesswork.

Those are the goals or that is what I expect to accomplish anyhow .. Now it is up to me to remember when to water and not to get lazy about it. I should know if it is working as intended after a month or two. From what I have been reading, this practice should promote flowering or at least put the plants in a more suitable condition for a stress free flowering process.

It's nice to look back in time .. And remember how Pepper got so excited whenever we brought home something new. He was so curious to what it was that he could not leave it alone. This was most certainly the case whenever we brought home new Orchids as well. He would sniff at it, circle it several times, then look at us for permission to keep it as his own. Or at least that's the story I created in my mind. More likely that he wanted to either try to play with it, eat it or pee on it.. hehehe. I miss him and his sneaky, hopeful ways.

Molly on the other hand .. She was just as happy not having anything to do with new things. She did not like changes in her environment, but would rather just stay snuggled in one of her many beds. And that is how I like to remember her.. Little Miss Comfortable.

Thank you for swinging by my blog and checking out the post. Have a great day!

All words, pictures and art pieces are the sole property of B D Miller Gallery, unless otherwise noted and credited, and are not to be reproduced or copied without the prior written consent of B D Miller Gallery.