As every gardener knows, weather plays a critical role in plant care—especially for the delicate Phalaenopsis orchid. In summer, shading is essential, and plants should be moved to cooler, sheltered spots. Never leave them exposed on an open balcony. After periods of intense heat, heavy rains often follow, creating a deadly combination of high temperature plus high humidity, which can quickly kill orchids. So how should they be cared for in such conditions?
Avoid the “death trio”: high heat, high humidity, and poor ventilation.
The key is to keep indoor humidity below 60%—remember this number. In southern regions of China, rainy days can easily push humidity to 80% or higher. Here, ventilation becomes the orchid’s lifeline. A simple household fan is the most effective solution: run it for at least 10 hours a day during humid weather.
For example, I place my orchids on a south-facing balcony. Even when rain pushes humidity up to 80%, switching on the fan immediately clears the stuffiness and prevents trouble. On dry days, when humidity drops to around 50%, pairing that with fan circulation helps roots grow even more robustly.
After watering, forced ventilation is essential. No matter how little water is applied, always turn on a fan for at least 8 hours to dry the medium—especially if using sphagnum moss. Never let roots sit in stagnant moisture. Remember: orchids can tolerate heat, but not humidity above 60%.
From personal experience, I once repotted my orchids but left them in an enclosed balcony without ventilation and watered too soon. Within just five days, the leaves turned mushy, and the roots had completely rotted into sludge—a painful reminder that humidity control is everything.
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