Water your orchids using a spouted watering can of a size that reflects the size of your collection. As this grows, you will want to convert to a garden hose in your greenhouse connected to the mains water supply. Use an adjustable nozzle to make the job easier and more enjoyable.

When you apply water, give enough to flood the surface, allowing the water to run through, then repeat the process. This will ensure a good soaking. Because of the nature of orchid compost (growing medium), the water will quickly disappear, so you need to use much more than is actually retained.

Depending upon the water quality where you live, you may be able to use the mains supply straight from the tap. siost orchids prefer a natural pH, and you can find out the acidity of your water imam your supplier.

If the pseudobulbs are plump, all is well. Shrivelled pseudobulbs, or limp foliage, may indicate underwatering or even overwatering. Further study of the roots will ascertain which is the cause, and the problem can be remedied. Generally, you may expect to water a typical orchid once or twice in any week during the growing season. Water once every two or three weeks while the orchid is resting.

There are other, more expensive methods of converting your water supply, or it may be easier to collect rainwater from outside and use that. If stored water is being used, be sure that it is at room temperature, especially in winter, when icy water will chill the roots. If your water butt (deep sink) is outside, bring in a can-full the day before you need to use it.

A large, root-bound plant its a small pot will need far more water to ensure that some of it at least gets iris the pot and penetrates to the roots.

Always try to water the orchids at time when the temperature is rising. This means watering early in the dae and is more important in winter sin when all surplus moisture will hat time to dry by nightfall. This avoids the combination of wet and cold that orchids detest.

This system is less necessary with indoor growing, and where just a few plants are grown they can be moved individually to the kitchen foe watering and allowed to drain before being returned to their growing area. so surplus water is not a problem.