Watering orchids wrong, I think.....

[vmax3000]

Ok, I am a busy person. I am finishing a Ph.D., trying to maintain my exercise schedule, eat, sleep and be social outside of the university setting. I have been growing orchids in one manner or another since 1995 (I am a junkie...there, I said it ). A certain amount of my life pie is taken, but I won't give up my collection. Here's my confession: I sometimes water in the evenings. I know, I know, risk of mushy, black death and rot...but, when things have gotten out of hand and my attention has been elsewhere - I haven't gotten out to check my growing area in a couple of days , I go out to see them after a long day in the lab and several of my little ones look dry and shriveled and I give in to my urge to water. Should I refrain until the next morning, knowing that I will worry and fret? I really would love to open a discussion on this. It really is my dirty little secret and I don't want to kill my plants, but.....I don't want to kill my plants. Thanks for your input. Please be gentle .

[Des]

You should consider a hydroponic system , with a timer which will water your plants when they should be watered .Visit your local hydroponic shop and ask for advice

[philoserenus]

or semihydroponics if you dun want to go that high tech ^^

[quiltergal]

I've been known to give all mine a light watering in the evening say after coming home from a long vacation knowing I have to get up and go to work the next morning and there won't be time to do it then. None of mine have died. Life happens. Just be careful not to get the leaves wet or the media too saturated. It's probably not as big a danger when the weather is warm. It's when it's cool out that it gets risky. Damp+cool=rot

[(..._...)]

I sometimes water in the evenings, either because I have been too busy all day, or they seemed to damp in the morning, but now seem ready to be watered. I have low humidity right now, so as long as no mosture stays in between the crowns of my phals, they seem to be be ok, the other types seem fine too- i just try not to wet the leaves. I think watering at night with high humidity seems to cause those problems.

Good luck with ur Ph. D.

[gmdiaz]

Well, that's the best and funniest post I've read in a long time! LOL

I think if you are gonna sneak water to your orchids AT NIGHT, you just need to cover your tracks.

Make sure you do not leave any tell tale water drops on the leaves that could lead anyone to notice and then question your "activities".

And I think you'll be A-Okay.

[Des]

In the early winter here in SA the daytime temps can reach as high as 35 c and then drop to 10 c at night with 100% humidity . These are ideal conditions for the onset of fungus, yet there there are times when your plants are just too dry and you must water at night . I have a method that i have used for many years and I have never had any problems with fungus to date !
Firstly i spray the the plants with a contact fungcide making sure that i include a wetter or stcking agent to the spray, every 2 weeks, during this time of the year.I then treat the water i use for the night time water .
The water is oxygenated using an aquarium aerator.
No fertilizer is added ,as fungi just love the nitrogen. I then add Sporekill to the water (I think your equivalent would be Physan 20) and leave it to do its job for at least 20 minutes prior to watering. This reduces the pathogen count sufficiently for you to water at night with some degree of safety

[Des]

In the early winter here in SA the daytime temps can reach as high as 35 c and then drop to 10 c at night with 100% humidity . These are ideal conditions for the onset of fungus, yet there there are times when your plants are just too dry and you must water at night . I have a method that i have used for many years and I have never had any problems with fungus to date !
Firstly i spray the the plants with a contact fungcide making sure that i include a wetter or stcking agent to the spray, every 2 weeks, during this time of the year.I then treat the water i use for the night time water .
The water is oxygenated using an aquarium aerator.
No fertilizer is added ,as fungi just love the nitrogen. I then add Sporekill to the water (I think your equivalent would be Physan 20) and leave it to do its job for at least 20 minutes prior to watering. This reduces the pathogen count sufficiently for you to water at night with some degree of safety

[Des]

Whoops don't know what happened there ! I seem to have developed a stutter !

[Neverend]

You can water in the evening, however your area needs really good air ventilation or you'll risk rotting it!