How to know when to water Catasetum Orchids after dormancy
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When to start watering Catasetum orchids after dormancy? should we wait to see the length of the roots? should we wait for leaves? well yes you can do that, there is no written rule on things, however if you want a logical explanation for things so you can decide for yourself when it is time, here it is 🙂
When the roots first appear they are not able to absorb water, almost at all. They need a bit more time to properly develop. When an orchid’s roots cannot absorb water it will still have a glossy white, or silver coating. When a root absorbs water you might know it changes color, it darkens in a way to a greenish color. And that’s everything you need to know 🙂
Because the point is to not keep the orchid pot too soggy when the roots cannot pick up water, all you need to do is pay attention to the color change. Even if you have 1 cm of root length exposed, it’s all you need. When they start to change color you can start to lightly water. Maybe first spray the top of the media to get the first layer wet since the roots are not long. In a week or so you can run some water lightly through the pot to wet the bottom layers too. Always start gradually and observe your orchid, as the roots grow you’ll see them better through the pot and you will see the media get drier faster and faster as they grow and drink more water. And voila 🙂
