The Surprising Watering Mistake That Could Be Killing Your Orchid

Being able to keep an orchid alive is a badge of honor among plant lovers. These beautiful flowers line store aisles everywhere, yet they often languish after they're brought home. The most common mistakes that people make with orchids involve excessive watering. In addition, the time of day matters. In that regard, the orchid watering mistake to avoid is doing it in the evening or nighttime, which can have similar adverse effects as overwatering. The best time is early in the morning.

Orchids are extremely sensitive to having their roots constantly exposed to soggy soil. It can lead to fungal diseases and root rot, and ultimately the demise of your precious orchid. At night, temperatures are lower and the sun is down, so water is more likely to stagnate in the soil around the roots rather than evaporating. That leaves the orchid sitting in stagnant water all night long. Water pooling at the base of the leaves can also lead to crown rot. Ideally, your orchid should never sit in water for any length of time, and watering in the morning rather than at night helps achieve that.

Water your orchid first thing in the morning and it will be dry enough by nighttime to alleviate the risk of disease, resulting in a happy, healthy orchid. This also has the benefit of giving the orchid plenty of time to absorb moisture throughout the day, whereas waiting until the middle of the day could result in the water evaporating too quickly and leaving the plant thirsty.

So what's the best method for watering orchids? It depends in part on the type of orchid, pot, and potting mix you have. One common method for success is to plunge the entire pot into water rather than watering from the top, offering your orchid a thorough drenching.

Whichever method you choose, timing and thorough drainage are essential. Overwatering or inadequate drainage could still lead to wet feet or root rot, even if you consistently water in the morning. Wait until the soil has been dry for a few days to water your orchid again; once a week is a good ballpark, but it may need more or less frequent watering depending on its growing conditions. In addition to using a pot with drainage and orchid potting mix, place the pot on a saucer filled with gravel after watering. Excess water will have space to drip out without any risk of the plant's roots sitting in water.