Watering Guide for Popular Orchid Types

Orchids vary globally—water needs differ by type and season. General guidelines for common varieties:

• Brassia: Year-round; less in winter. Mist foliage, not buds/flowers.
• Cattleya: Heavy summer; scarce winter. Summer foliage mist.
• Coelogyne: Regular spring–summer; taper fall–winter.
• Cymbidium: Year-round; winter dry-out between. Summer mist.
• Dendrobium: Gradual with new growth. Sparse until buds defined. Heavy during growth. Winter dry.
• Encyclia: Liberal when growing. Overhead spray (not flowering). Winter: keep pseudobulbs from shriveling.
• Epidendrum: Free in growth; less winter to avoid rot.
• Laelia: Summer heavy; winter near-dry (resting).
• Lycaste: Summer free + humidity. Reduce when leaves yellow. Winter only if pseudobulbs shrivel.
• Masdevallia: Year-round careful water—never dry, never soggy.
• Maxillaria: Summer free; winter less. Never bone-dry.
• Miltoniopsis: Year-round OK.
• Odontoglossum: Year-round; less winter.
• Oncidium: Year-round; natural species dry in winter rest.
• Paphiopedilum: Light mist only. Avoid crown rot (water in center).
• Phalaenopsis: Year-round; no overwater. Avoid crown rot.
• Phragmipedium: Roots evenly moist year-round.
• Pleione: Water only during growth.
• Stanhopea: Active growth water. Summer mist (not flowering).
• Vanda: Summer free for aerial roots; regular foliage mist.
• Zygopetalum: More summer, less winter. Root-only water; no foliage spray.

Adjust species/hybrids within types for best results.