How do you know when an orchid needs water?

Identifying over- or under-watered orchids is all about looking for signs. Your orchid will give you clues if it's happy with your watering routine, the biggest being healthy-looking green roots. It will also signal if your watering routine is over-zealous (brown roots). However, you can easily tell if it needs water if the roots are gray or white root, or simply by poking your finger into the soil. If it's as dry as a bone, the orchid needs watering. In the meantime, look to mist it daily, especially in hot, dry conditions.

How often should I water my orchid? Garden experts explain

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Lucy Searle

published 15 March 2023

Contributions from

Drew Swainston, Sarah Wilson, Holly Crossley, Anne Swithinbank

in Advice

Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens since 1990, working her way around the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-nineties. She was Associate Editor on Ideal Home, and Launch Editor of 4Homes magazine, before moving into digital in 2007, launching Channel 4's flagship website, Channel4.com/4homes. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com, taking the site from a small magazine add-on to a global success. She was asked to repeat that success at Homes & Gardens, where she also took on the editorship of the magazine. Today, Lucy works as Content Director across Homes & Gardens, Woman & Home, Ideal Home and Real Homes.

With contributions from

Drew SwainstonContent Editor
Sarah Wilson
Holly CrossleyContributing Editor
Anne SwithinbankFreelance writer

'How often should I water my orchid?' Our house plant experts give you the definitive answer

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