How Often to Water an Orchid (and Keep It Flourishing for Decades)

Orchids (Orchidaceae) are a popular potted plant known for their unique, intricate blooms. Under the right growing conditions, orchids can thrive for up to two decades. But one of the hardest parts to get right when caring for this plant is watering it the right way. Overwatering is one of the biggest mistakes gardeners make when tending to orchids. To help you avoid this common pitfall, we spoke to gardening experts who shared their tips for watering orchids, including how often you should do it.

How Often to Water Orchids

There's no one right answer when it comes to how often you should water an orchid—this will vary depending on various factors, including sunlight, temperature, potting medium, orchid variety, and container size. The best way to determine if your orchid needs water is to test the soil. "Stick your finger in the potting mix up to your second knuckle. If it’s still moist, leave it alone. If it’s just about dry, give it a couple more days. If it’s dry, it’s time for another round of watering," says gardening expert Ryan McEnaney.

Factors to Consider

The experts we spoke to say to keep the following considerations in mind when watering an orchid so you don't over or underwater it.

Potting Medium

Some potting mixes dry out faster than others. "A mix that’s primarily bark, for example, doesn’t hold moisture nearly as long as a sphagnum-moss mix, so it may need slightly heavier amounts of water or slightly more frequent waterings than the moss," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms.

Temperature

As is the case with most plants, lower temperatures and higher humidity will reduce an orchid's need for watering, while warmer temperatures and lower humidity will increase its watering requirements. "This is why I don’t recommend having a set schedule for watering your orchids, because it may change based on the season or how your space is heated," says McEnaney.

Orchid Type

A majority of orchids, including moth orchid (Phalaenopsis), are epiphytes, meaning they naturally grow on other plants and not in the ground. Epiphytic orchids do not require constant moisture and it's important to make sure the roots don't stay wet, says Hancock. Terrestrial orchids, however, grow in the ground and typically require more frequent watering.

Sunlight

Sunlight will also dictate how often your orchid needs water. "In high-light conditions, your orchid is going to metabolize more and need a little more moisture than the same plant would in a low-light spot," says Hancock.

Container Size

An orchid potted in a large container will typically need to be watered less often than an orchid potted in a small container. This is because smaller pots hold less soil, and less soil means less water. Because of this, you will likely need to adjust your orchid's watering needs after moving it to a larger pot.

How to Water an Orchid

The way you water an orchid depends on its potting medium. If it is potted in a container with a drainage hole, top water it slowly with room temperature water. "The more slowly water is applied, the more will be absorbed by the roots and the potting mix," says Hancock. "And room temperature water is best because there’s less of a chance of stressing the plant with cold or hot water."

If your orchid is potted in moss, you can soak the moss ball in clean water until it is moist. "Don’t dunk your orchids and moss ball in a dirty sink or reused water," says McEnaney. "Let it soak in, then fully drain out."

Signs of Overwatering

Overwatering is one of the biggest mistakes people make when caring for an orchid. "If the roots are brown and soft, you’ve watered too much and need to back off," says Hancock. Yellow, droopy leaves may also be a sign you're overwatering your orchid.

Signs of Underwatering

While it's better to keep an orchid too dry rather than too wet, underwatering can cause issues. "I sometimes see people say to hold off watering your orchid (particularly in the case of moth orchids) until the leaves start to wrinkle," says Hancock. "While this is a great way to prevent overwatering, the plant starts to suffer stress when the leaves wrinkle." Brittle, gray roots are another indicator that your orchid is being under-watered.