When to water new Phals orchids

[bellc]

I bought four orchids about 3-4 days ago. The bark feels dry to the touch to me. To play it safe, when should I first water the orchids? They were a fresh shipment on the day I purchased them.

To water them, I was going to place them in my sink and pour tepid bottled water through the bark for about 10 seconds until it drained out. Is this advisable?

Thanks.

~Bella

Putting them in the sink and pouring tepid water through them is ideal.
Bottled water isn't necessary unless you have very salty or hard tap water.

Bark is very deceptive. It looks dry on top but can be wet in the center. If you're not sure whether or not they need water, get a shishkabob skewer and put it into the medium and keep it there. When you think the plant needs water take it out and touch it to your lip or cheek. If it's wet don't water. Put the skewer back and wait a couple of days. If it's barely moist, water. (How wet or dry the skewer is will depend on what type of orchid it is). The skewer method prevents me from overwatering my plants.

[jerrymeola]

It is not necessary to water new orchids very soon. Orchids can go long periods without water. Allowing them to adapt when you first get them is safe. I often go a week even in out hot florida weather with new orchids, while I water daily on established orchids.

Orchid126's advice is very correct. Do not judge dryness by only the top. When using tap water be careful your water company does not use a lot of chlorine or worst chloroamine which can burn any plant. If you have high chlorine levels you can put the water in a pot overnight and stir it a couple of times to release the chlorine gas. Then it will be ok for watering. Bottled water and rain water are always safe.

10 seconds may not fully wet your orchid roots. If they have good drainage you can water for for a long time (three hours of rain in our flordia summers daily) as when the plant drains it still can not have any more water than the medium is capable of holding. Over watering is more a condition of poor medium retaining too much water rather than the quantity of water.

Placing a plant in a bucket of water to soak is a very good way to water as an alternative to top watering. 5-10 minutes to soak is good. I sometime soak for up to two days on an over dry plant, especially bare root plants.

[mary mcalpine]

I have a soft water treatment system for my water and I am using the treated water for my orchids. Some are thriving but I have noticed that the older Phals are developing longer, narrower and limper leaves. They do flower successfully. The Vandas and others are the fine. What effect will the soft water have on my orchids?

[jerrymeola]

mary

water softners using sodium salt can build up the salt which is toxic for the plants (any plant not just orchids)

Your water faucets outside most probably bypass the softner and you can use it safely. My well is 1800 ppm of dissolved minerals but the orchids thrive. I occasionally use the sodium softened water when I am lazy for an indoor plant and 'occasional' use is not terrible.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

If the softener was added after the house was built and plumbed, I very much doubt the outside fausets bypass the softener. My house didn't. Cynthia