We should appreciate orchid and other flower fanciers, in part, for the burgeoning movement to reuse the water that reaches our homes, particularly that which falls as rain. If you are growing orchids, this might be something you should look into.

Orchids, like most other plants, have specific likes and dislikes as to the water provided them to nourish their roots. Most of them definitely do not like water that is too hard. Unfortunately, the water that comes out of the taps in many areas is too hard for orchids to respond as well as we might like. Rarely will hard water kill them. But it may retard their growth or prevent them from blossoming as gorgeously as they might.

A saving grace about orchids is that they possess thick, fleshy roots that can stand up to hard water better than many other sorts of plants. Woody plants, as an example, with their fine roots, are easily killed by water that is overly hard. Nevertheless you should take measures to avoid putting hard water on your orchids.

There are devices that you can buy to attach to your water line that will make your water softer while blocking many impurities that are bad for humans and plants alike. But absolutely nothing beats rainwater when it comes to treating your orchids right! After all, this is the form of water that nature supplies to plants the world over.

A number of companies make rain barrels that are great for collecting and holding rainwater until you want to use it. Many people set up the barrels below the rainspouts coming from their roofs. With a little planning and work, you could set up a bank of barrels to direct water right to your orchids. Then the watering task, presuming you live in a fairly rainy area, becomes almost hands off.

Whatever type of water you decide to use, don’t put it on your plants if it is chilly. For instance, I would not use water that I got from an outdoor faucet on a cold day, without first allowing it to come to room temperature in my home or greenhouse. Chilled water can cause spotting, rot young growths and harm roots.

Some orchids will benefit from water with a little lime mixed in it. In years gone by, people noticed that imported Cypripedium orchids often were covered with lime deposits owing to the plants having grown in limestone rock crevices where the water trickled down upon them. So if you have a Cypripedium, you could experiment with adding lime to its water, a little at first and then more if you determine that the plant is thriving on it.

The art and science of orchid cultivation is an intriguing topic. Orchid growing is not as difficult as some people like to make it out to be, but you must arm yourself with accurate information before plunging in to this rewarding pastime. 

The most up-to-date guide to contemporary orchid cultivation, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded over the Internet. Howard’s well-written guide constitutes a complete education all to itself. And, it’s suitable for beginners as well as more seasoned orchid cultivators. Additionally, spend some time at this Orchid Secrets site, which is publishing an ever-growing library of information on a wide range of facets of orchid cultivation.



Haven't You Always Wanted A Hammock?
Shop Hammocks.com Today!

Tagged with: • • • • • • •

Filed under: backyard garden • backyard gardening • gardening tips • indoor herb garden • new brunswick • vegetable garden

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!