Avoid Using Hard Water on Your Orchids

We can thank orchid and other flower growers, at least in part, for the recent movement to recycle the water that reaches our homes, particularly that which falls as rain. If you are starting out with orchids, this could be something you should look into.

Orchids, similar to other plants, have specific likes and dislikes as to the water given them to nourish their roots. Most of them do not like hard water. Unfortunately, the water that comes out of the taps in many areas is too hard for orchids to thrive at their best. Rarely will hard water out-and-out kill them. It might stunt their growth, though, or keep them from ever blooming as wonderfully as they would otherwise.

A good thing about orchids is the fact that they sport thick, fleshy roots that can stand up to hard water better than many other sorts of plants. Hardwood plants, for instance, with their fine roots, are too easily ruined by water that is overly hard. Nevertheless you should take steps to get around putting hard water on your orchids.

There are filters you can get to add to your water line that will make your water softer while blocking many impurities that would be bad for humans and plants both. But to tell the truth nothing beats rainwater when it comes to treating orchids right! After all, this is the type of water that nature supplies to plants the world over.

Several companies make rain barrels that are perfect for catching and storing rainwater until you want to use it. Many people set up the barrels underneath the rainspouts coming from their roofs. With some planning and work, you could set up a bank of barrels to channel water right to your orchids. Then the watering chore, presuming you live in a fairly rainy area, becomes virtually hands free.

Whatever type of water you decide to use, don't use it on your plants if it has a chill on it. For example, I would not use water that I got from an outdoor faucet on a cold day, without first bringing it to room temperature in my home or in the greenhouse. Cold water can cause spots on the plants, rot the new growths and damage the 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 in chalky 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 of orchid cultivation is an intriguing subject. Orchid growing is not as difficult as some people like to make it out to be, but you must arm yourself with solid information before plunging in to this rewarding pastime. 

The most accurate and clear guidebook to expert orchid growing, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard's guide is a full education all to itself, practical for beginners as well as the more experienced. Additionally, spend some time at the Orchid Secrets site, which contains an ever-expanding database of articles on all topics of orchid care.